WAYNE Brown got off to a flying start as Colchester United's interim head coach after leading them to a superb 3-0 win at Salford City this afternoon.

The U's produced a superb performance at Moor Lane to register their first win in eight league games and end their losing run.

It was a hugely impressive all-round display by Colchester, who thoroughly deserved their first league win since November 23 to boost their League Two survival hopes.

Brown made four changes to his starting line-up for their game at Salford.

Myles Kenlock was handed his debut after signing on loan from Ipswich Town, while Junior Tchamadeu, Alan Judge and Shamal George – who had not played since November because of a rib injury, all returned.

Tommy Smith and Owura Edwards dropped to the bench, while Miles Welch-Hayes missed out altogether and Jake Turner has returned to Newcastle United following the completion of his loan spell.

Colchester were looking to get off to a good start and they came agonisingly close to doing so, inside three minutes.

Cole Skuse’s clean right-foot strike from 20 yards rattled the foot of the post, after Freddie Sears had done brilliantly to set him up.

Salford did go close in the 14th minute when Ryan Watson’s half volley flew just wide of the post, after Matt Smith had headed the ball down into his path.

But Colchester posed far more attacking threat than their hosts in the first half and continued to carve out clearcut chances.

Judge headed wide from Tchamadeu’s precise cross into the six-yard box when he should have at least hit the target while a few minutes later, Sears sprung the offside trap but was denied by goalkeeper Tom King, who made a smart save at his feet.

Colchester’s excellent deliveries into the box were causing the hosts all sorts of problems, although the visitors’ momentum was checked somewhat when Skuse was forced off with what proved to be an eye problem and was replaced by Noah Chilvers.

Chilvers made an immediate impact when his low cross evaded both Sears and Judge in the six-yard box.

Colchester were furious that a penalty was not awarded, after Judge appeared to be impeded in the box.

However, they did not have to wait long to go ahead.

Luke Chambers guided a brilliant header past King following Judge’s pinpoint free-kick into the area, to give the U’s the lead on the half hour.

It was thoroughly deserved and things got even better for Colchester, three minutes later.

Debutant Kenlock converted from close range for his first-ever professional goal, after Chambers’ header from Judge’s corner had been scrambled off the line.

Colchester almost made it 3-0 four minutes before the break when King palmed away Judge’s low drive, after Kenlock had done brilliantly to race down the left and pick him out.

The U’s went in at the break in full control after what was their best half of football of the season so far, something that prompted Salford to make a double change at the break.

The hosts started the second half but Colchester defended well and almost added a third on the hour mark when a swift counter-attack resulted in Chilvers' sending a weak shot straight at King.

George was called upon to make a fine one-handed stop to take the sting out of substitute Conor McAleny's shot soon after.

And George pulled off another smart stop with 13 minutes remaining when he brilliantly palmed away Turnbull's header from close-range, after a free-kick into the area.

They proved crucial as it allowed Colchester to preserve their lead - and then add to it with seven minutes remaining.

Substitute Corie Andrews finished superbly past King, after Sears had latched onto Hannant's clearance and superbly driven at the home defence. 

The outstanding Chambers made a superb challenge in his own area to deny substitute Conor McAleny late on, as the U's claimed an excellent win.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: George, Tchamadeu, Chambers, Dallison, Kenlock, Skuse (sub Chilvers, 25), Wiredu, Huws, Hannant, Judge (sub Andrews, 71; sub Nouble, 87)), Sears.

Subs (not used): Smith, Coxe, Edwards, Gerken.

U’s man of the match: Luke Chambers.

Salford City: King, Love, Lowe, Vassell (sub Shephard, 46), Eastham, Watson, Lund (sub Elliott, 64), Turnbull, Kelly (sub McAleny, 46), Hunter, Smith.

Subs (not used): Ndaba, Oteh, Golden, Torrance.

Referee: Ollie Yates.

Bookings: Colchester: Huws (foul, 60). Salford: Eastham (foul, 50), Watson (foul, 54).

Goals: Colchester: Chambers (30), Kenlock (33), Andrews (83).

Attendance: 1,759 (195 U's fans).