ALAN Mahon marked his first league start of the season with a goal to put Burnley in the driving seat at Layer Road.
Andy Gray made it 2-0 with his fourth goal in five games before Kevin Lisbie pulled a goal back for Colchester.
Both Burnley's goals came from raids down the right flank.
Michael Duff's wing delivery was only partially cleared by the Colchester defender and Mahon struck a sweet left-foot volley from around 20 yards, through a sea of bodies and into the bottom right corner.
Gray added a second on 28 minutes, benefiting from Wade Elliott's right wing cross.
But Colchester threatened before the break and got their reward on the stroke of half-time as Kevin Lisbie headed in George Elokobi's left-wing delivery.
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