Kit Symons recorded a win in his first game in charge

Colchester won their first match under caretaker manager Kit Symons as they climbed out of the bottom four.

David Perkins' curler from outside the box put Colchester ahead, but Antony Kay's header levelled the scores.

Mark Yeates' 25-yard free-kick restored Colchester's lead, and Clive Platt made it 3-1 on the turn before Johnnie Jackson added a long-range fourth.

Andy Taylor cut the gap after a howler from Dean Gerken but Ryan Shotton's strike came too late for Tranmere.

Goals: Kay 12, Taylor 76, Shotton 78.

Booked: Gerken, Hammond.

Goals: Perkins 4, Yeates 15, Platt 40, Jackson 47.

Att: 5,713

Ref: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).