COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONEBy David VincentColchester United's flying start to the season has seen their odds for promotion slashed and got the football world sitting up and taking notice.

COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE

By David Vincent

Colchester United's flying start to the season has seen their odds for promotion slashed and got the football world sitting up and taking notice.

Layer Road is the place to be for goals and excitement.

Coca Cola Division One table-toppers United are also the top scorers in the league with nine points collected and eight goals scored in their best start for 27 years.

Having started the season at 33/1 to finish in the top spot, their odds have been slashed to 16/1 for the title and just 6/1 for promotion by any route.

The flexibility in Phil Parkinson's squad was displayed on Saturday against Peterborough when centre half Wayne Brown missed the match, stuck in traffic, and Pat Baldwin was drafted in to put in a man-of-the-match performance in central defence.

There were other enforced changes with Bobby Bowry missing out through stomach trouble but the U's roller coaster continued, after a few scares, to win the local derby 2-1.

Parkinson faces difficult selection choices for Saturday's visit to Chesterfield but managers prefer to have the sort of choices.

Parkinson said: "I like having these sort of selection problems. It was a big boost for the squad that the lads who came in did that well.

Today a number of players have a chance to stake their claims for a starting place on Saturday when the U's reserves are in action against Queens Park Rangers at Layer Road (kick-off 2pm).

Colchester squad: Gerken, White, Crouch, Richards, Elokobi, Hunt, Bowditch, Toney, C Johnston, May, Coleman, Bailey, Paine, Cousins, Guy and Pond.

In ticket news, travelling fans must reserve their tickets for the trip to Hartlepool on Bank Holiday Monday August 30, which is being made all-ticket for visitors.

Hartlepool were impressive in their win at Huddersfield in Monday night's televised game and look to be a force again this season.

Also on sale are tickets for the Carling Cup clash with Cheltenham next Tuesday which is followed by an attractive home game against Doncaster Rovers the following Saturday (August 28).

Season tickets holders must reserve their seats for the Carling Cup tie by 5pm tomorrow.