GOAL-hero Chris Iwelumo powered Colchester United to the top of the League One table with a match-winning header against Scunthorpe at Layer Road last night.

Colchester United 1 Scunthorpe United 0

GOAL-hero Chris Iwelumo powered Colchester United to the top of the League One table with a match-winning header against Scunthorpe at Layer Road last night.

Leading scorer Iwelumo headed home Greg Halford's long throw, in the second minute of injury-time at the end of the first half, to seal a 20th win from the last 22 matches.

The Scotsman described the U's rise to top spot as a “fantastic feeling”, although he also warned that the Essex club have some very hard weeks ahead of them.

“The games are getting harder and harder, but we are showing a very professional attitude,” enthused Iwelumo last night.

“Teams are now coming to Layer Road and playing at a high tempo. They are trying to take the wind out of our sails, and it's up to us to stop them.

“My goal was another vital one. I was brought in to score goals, so I'm delighted to be doing my job right.

“It was a good header, mainly because of the power that Greg [Halford] put in his long throw.

“Their lad [Richard Hinds] might have complained that I had fouled him, but I was hardly going to go up to the referee and tell him it was a foul! I thought it was a good goal.

“The goal came at the perfect time, just before half-time. Scunthorpe came at us again in the second half, but we defended well and got the right result.

“It's a fantastic feeling to be on top of the table. I'm delighted to be up there at this time of the year,” added Iwelumo.

The striker now has 16 goals to his name this term.

The U's leapfrogged Essex rivals Southend into pole position in League One last night, and they are a healthy six points clear of third-placed Swansea.

This evening, they will also learn their opponents in the fifth round of the FA Cup, when Premiership teams Chelsea and Everton contest their fourth-round replay at Stamford Bridge.

Iwelumo said: “I guess that I'll be watching that game on television. I'll put it on and maybe watch it in the background, chilling out!

“However, we are all focusing on this Saturday's league game at Huddersfield.”