Report | Colchester United

Richard Cresswell notched the final ever goal at Layer Road as Stoke moved closer to promotion, but a late goal at Hull ensured the battle for promotion goes to the final day.

On an emotional day at the home of Colchester United, the football was a nervy, gritty affair, but the occasion was perhaps more important overall.

For the whole of the second half, it seemed like Stoke were destined to get over the finishing line, but it was not to be on the day.

The game as a whole lacked much in the way of genuine clear-cut chances.

The visitors were happy to hit the U's with angled balls, whilst the home team struggled to unlock a resolute visiting defence.

If anyone was going to grab a goal in the early stages, it was the impressive Ricardo Fuller who continually gave the Potters an outlet as the game got into its stride.

Whether down the left, centre or the right, the Jamaican was causing the U's problems and twice blazed the wrong side of the woodwork after working himself into good positions.

For the U's, they were struggling to get near to Carlo Nash's goal and the first half as a whole lacked much in the way of penalty area action.

That was until the final minute of the first half.

The fans were preparing to get their last half time beverage at Layer Road when the ball came in from the left and Gerken pulled off an outstanding save from Cresswell's header.

The keeper got back to his feet as Lawrence picked up the loose ball and pushed it back across goal beyond the despairing lunge of John White and Cresswell, still rueing his earlier missed opportunity, regained his composure to nudge the ball home with his knee.

The U's went in trailing at the break and they almost found themselves two down after the interval.

First Sidibe had his shot bravely blocked by Coyne, before the Mali international dived - almost in slow motion - full length to try and head home a Delap cross.

With Hull trailing against Crystal Palace, the slender advantage had City on the way to the top flight and as the game wore on, the defensive banks of four dropped in deeper with the Potters happy to use the pace of their forwards to get away at the other end.

The U's did have Nash worried on a couple of occasions in the second half - both coming from the foot of Hammond.

First, he curled in a sumptuous effort that had the Stoke keeper flat footed, only to see it go inches wide.

Then the former Brighton man had his balance perfectly placed to strike a fierce volley towards goal from twenty yards that ripped just over the crossbar.

The U's also had the ball in the back of the net as Platt headed home in the latter stages, only for Sheringham to be pulled up for a foul on Nash in the lead up to the goal.

Platt then weaved his way to goal to set up Lisbie and the U's top scorer forced a good save out of Nash from a narrow angle as the U's turned up the pressure.

City's fans knew they were on the brink of the top flight, but were left to rue a late, late goal at Hull as City captain Ian Ashbee powered home a header.

The race for promotion goes to the final week - the U's will just be looking forward to getting the game at Scunthorpe completed and begin their summer planning for next year's assault on League One.