Colchester boosted their League Two play-off hopes and dented Notts County's promotion push with a 1-0 victory at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Tyreece Simpson netted the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time as Colchester moved to within three points of the top seven, with beaten County falling four points adrift of the top three.
The first half was a scrappy affair, where both sides struggled to create clearcut chances.
But Colchester took a 43rd-minute lead when Simpson tapped in from close range after Oscar Thorn had done well to rob Will Jarvis of possession near the edge of the area and square the ball across goal.
It meant that Colchester went in at the break ahead and the hosts started the second half brightly as they looked to build on their advantage.
Visiting midfielder Nick Tsaroulla tried his luck with a shot from 25 yards that flew wide of the target while veteran David McGoldrick curled a shot over as the Magpies searched for an equaliser.
Thorn sidefooted over from Owura Edwards' cross for Colchester and although Jarvis fired a good chance straight at Matt Macey late on for County, the hosts claimed a vital win.
Report supplied by PA Media.
Colchester's Danny Cowley happy to be back to winning ways (BBC Essex)
