A superb solo effort from Paul Hayes four minutes before the break was enough to decide the game, with United back in the Championship play-off places as a result.
"It was a fantastic goal, everybody who wasn't here should make sure they watch it on the TV," said Adkins.
"It was a good team performance all round and an excellent win. We had to make changes and it was plan B, but we played some good football and I'm very pleased with the effort put in by everybody.
"Not many teams will come to Colchester and get a result this season."
United were lucky not to concede after 25 miuntes when Kelly Youga felled Mark Yeates int he area.
"Here we are again talking about referees, but perhaps because I don't give them stick they can get away with things but I was very disappointed with that," said Colchester boss Geraint Williams.
"But it didn't happen and you've got to give Scunthorpe credit. That's as disappointing as we've been this year, we're among the top goalscorers in the league and yet if we were still out there now I don't think we'd have scored
"There was a lack of quality in the final third. We got into some great positions but the final ball was lacking and too many shots were going out of the way.
"They have come down here with a gameplan and they reminded us a bit of us last year.
"I'm not sure of Hayes' intentions, but if he meant to flick it over the centre-half then it was a great finish.
"But teams are not coming here now expecting to turn us over, they are coming with a gameplan to stop us and we've got to overcome that."