More to come

COLCHESTER United are League Two’s leading scorers and lie a point off the automatic promotion places, following their comprehensive 3-0 win over Cambridge United.

So it is probably a little ominous for opposition teams when they hear that John McGreal’s side are still not playing at the peak of their powers.

“My mate (David) Amoo plays for them (Cambridge) out wide and he said they think we have another gear in us, so it’s good to hear,” said U’s striker Frank Nouble, after helping to secure his side’s fourth league win of the season.

Colchester’s performance against Cambridge wasn’t faultless; they had to ride their luck at times.

But they were clinical when their chances came along and they were on the whole defensively sound, so probably deserved the fortune that came their way.

Off the mark

FRANK Nouble has had to wait a little while to break his Colchester United duck.

His first U’s goal has been a long time coming but he got off the mark in style against Cambridge United.

It capped a fine individual display for the former Newport County forward, in keeping with his excellent start to life at Colchester.

The powerful striker has played a big part in the U’s fine start to the new campaign and deserves the plaudits that are coming his way.

Deserving Dunne

THERE can’t be too many former Colchester United managers in recent history more popular than Joe Dunne.

The Irishman was always totally committed to the cause during his many years with the U’s, whether as a player, coach or manager.

Dunne still lives and breathes football; he is a talented coach who remains a popular man at Colchester, even though it is now four years since his departure.

The reception he received when introduced to the home crowd prior to yesterday’s match was hugely deserved.

In some ways, the only downside to Colchester’s fine victory yesterday was that it came against a Joe Dunne side.

Bursting with pride

ONE of the more bizarre moments of the season so far took place during the second half of the U’s win over Cambridge.

Luke Norris is getting a reputation for his fierce shooting but even he was surprised when he managed to burst the ball, going in for a challenge.

“I don’t know how they’ve burst the ball between the two of them,” said Colchester head coach John McGreal.

“It’s a long time since I’ve seen that but we know he’s got a powerful shot.”

The ball may have burst but Colchester’s bubble certainly has not, after their fine start to the season.

Jeepers keepers

COLCHESTER United goalkeeper Dillon Barnes was not even born when veteran Kevin Pilkington made his senior debut for Manchester United in the Premier League back in September, 1995.

But there was a chance yesterday that the two custodians – at opposite ends of their respective careers – might have lined up against one another on the same pitch.

An injury to Cambridge United’s reserve goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov in the warm-up meant that their 44-year-old coach Pilkington, with nearly 400 league appearances behind him, was named among the substitutes by the visitors, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

In truth, given Colchester’s clinical form yesterday it would have been a difficult afternoon for any opposition keeper between the sticks.