skip to content

  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: Layer Road Ground
  • Attendance: 6300
  • Referee: Friend, K

Live Commentary

90mins

The ref has blown his whistle for full time.

88mins

Colchester are replacing Karl Duguid with Clive Platt.

88mins

Shola Ameobi is booked for unsporting behaviour.

79mins

Mamady Sidibe is being taken off, Shola Ameobi has come on in his place.

62mins

Scott Vernon is being taken off, Teddy Sheringham has come on in his place.

46mins

The second half is under way with the score currently at 0 v 1.

45mins

The ref has blown his whistle for half time.

45mins

Goal!! Stoke have scored with Richard Cresswell putting it in the back of the net.

43mins

Adam Virgo is replaced by Bela Balogh.

0mins

The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.

Match Report

Stoke City moved a step nearer promotion to the Premier League with a narrow win over Colchester in what was the last ever game to be staged at Layer Road.

Hosts Colchester were looking to end an era with a rare victory, but they remained rooted to the bottom of the Championship tale following yet another defeat.

The game did not really mark the occasion - Layer Road has been hosting football for 101 years - but that won't worry Stoke, who came up with the winner in first-half stoppage time.

Richard Cresswell was the marksman from close range. Rory Delap hurled one of his trademark long throws into the penalty area and, although keeper Dean Gerken managed to keep out Cresswell's initial header, Liam Lawrence rifled the rebound back into the six-yard box for Cresswell to divert home, the ball seeming to come off his knee.

Delap's long throws caused problems for the U's all afternoon and the home side did not really threaten an equaliser until the dying minutes.

With time fast running out on this famous old ground, Colchester put in one last effort and substitute Clive Platt thought that he'd headed home an equaliser from John White's cross, only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul.

Deep into stoppage time keeper Carlo Nash, who had not really had a save to make all match, was finally called into action when blocking a goalbound drive from Kevin Lisbie.

But Stoke held out and are now in pole position to wrap up automatic promotion next weekend, when they entertain Leicester City.

In fact, for a long time it appeared as though Stoke would be celebrating promotion on the day, but their hopes were dashed by Hull City scoring a late winner against Crystal Palace.

That means that the Potteries club still have a bit to do to secure promotion next weekend. By contrast, Colchester have been doomed to relegation for weeks, and they end their season at Scunthorpe when they say goodbye to the Championship next Sunday.

Colchester United Team

Stoke City Team

Colchester United

Stoke City

Corners

210

Fouls

1315

Goal attempts

59

Shots off target

33

Offsides

54

advertisement

advertisement