Brandy netted his second league goal for the Saddlers in the 62nd minute.
West Brom loanee midfielder Sam Mantom threaded the ball through to Brandy just inside the box and the striker ghosted by two defenders before rolling the ball past keeper Mark Cousins.
Former youth prospect and summer signing Brandy, 23, then said:
"I was at United from the age of eight until I was twenty, but then had a year and a half out with an injury and ended up sleeping on a mate's couch in Greece. I was left feeling pretty disenchanted. I didn't know what I wanted to do, but it didn't involve football.
"Sir Alex called me up twice. The first time was for a chat and the second time was a real bollocking for not finding myself a club. When someone like Sir Alex takes time out of his schedule to call you and tell you to sort your head out and get back in the game, you listen.
"If you don't take the mickey with him, he'll always be there to look out for you and I'll always be grateful to him."
And Brandy - who represented England at under-16 through to under-20 level - revealed that Ferguson wasn't the only one giving support from Old Trafford. He said:
"Mike Phelan, Paul McGuiness the youth team coach and mates like Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley also called to keep my spirits up. Ole Gunnar Solskjær even phoned from Norway where he is manager of Molde to make sure I got back on track.
"The club also gave me medical help and inserted a plate in my foot to help with an injury I'd been trying to deal with myself."
But Cousins had looked as though he would help Colchester to their first point in five games.
Three minutes into the second half Cousins pulled off a brilliant double-save as Walsall dominated the game.
Winger Jamie Paterson crossed from the right and Cousins saved striker Will Grigg's point blank shot from twelve yards at full stretch before jumping up to block Brandy's follow up effort at the foot of his post.
Colchester came close to snatching a point in the 90th minute, but central defender Josh Thompson nodded Brian Wilson's free kick on to the top of the bar from twelve yards.
Both sides hit the crossbar before half time and Brandy could have nabbed a hat trick.
On the half hour MK Dons loanee striker Jabo Ibehre latched on to a long ball forward from full back John White, but saw his chip come back off the woodwork.
And in the 42nd minute Cousins did well to tip defender Andy Taylor's in swinging corner onto the top of the bar.
In the second minute Cousins did well to shut out Brandy from two yards.
Ten minutes later Brandy raced to the edge of the U's box from half way, but central defender Tom Eastman deflected the shot inches wide.
And in the 27th minute co-striker Craig Westcarr split the Colchester defence with a pass to the right of the box that Brandy dragged just wide of the far post.
Delighted Walsall boss Dean Smith said:
"I felt we deserved to win and thankfully we crossed the line. It was hard out there and we adapted well to the conditions. That's now one defeat in six league games.
"I'm really pleased that we were able to get the three points. We deserved to win; there were a few hairy moments towards the end, but, on the whole, it was a deserved victory."
Colchester manager Joe Dunne groaned:
"It's exceptionally tight at the bottom, but we just need a break. We have to keep going though and we will strengthen the squad.
The players are down at the moment because they don't like losing, but after a couple of days with their families at Christmas, hopefully that will kick-start them again."
My piece from the Sunday paper ...
... and from this morning's edition
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