The Saddlers returned to winning ways as two first half goals from Otis Khan and a second half header from Jack Earing condemned visiting side Colchester United to defeat at the Banks’s Stadium.
It was a fairly quiet start to the game with the first real chance falling the way of Matt Taylor’s side and that chance led to the opening goal as well.
Brendan Kiernan did really well down the left hand side to beat Junior Tchamadeu before delivering a left-footed cross into the box and Khan, who was left unmarked at the back post, had the simple task of tapping the ball home into an empty net.
Shortly after the opener, Colchester went in search of an immediate reply and nearly got it. A cross was hung up to the back post where Luke Hannant got up above Khan but his header was easily saved by Carl Rushworth.
On the half an hour mark, Rushworth was once again called into action as a free-kick was delivered into the six-yard box and George Miller nearly turned the ball into his own net but Rushworth made a fine save with his legs.
Two minutes after that save, the Saddlers and Khan got their second goal. Captain Stephen Ward lofted a cross into the box and the ball zipped up off the surface and Khan was there to lash the ball home on the volley.
Into the second half and the visitors came out flying and nearly got themselves back into the game after 54 minutes. Full back Tchamadeu advanced into the penalty area and his swerving shot looked like it was going to find the back of the net but Rushworth tipped it onto the post and fortunately it bounced back into his hands.
Moments later and United had another chance, this time it was Hannant who broke into the box but his shot back across goal went inches wide of the far post.
After 66 minutes, the Saddlers added their third of the afternoon. Miller picked the ball up just inside the Colchester half and turned into space before clipping the ball over the top into the path of Khan. Without hesitation Khan dinked the ball into the box and Earing arrived on the money to head the ball past Jake Turner in the Colchester goal.
With nine minutes left to play, the Saddlers nearly added their fourth goal of the afternoon. After coming on as a substitute, Kieran Phillips delivered a fine cross into the box for Miller to meet but his powerful header was tipped over the bar by Turner.