| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? 03:59 - Sep 22 with 376 views | ghughes11 |
“A two legged final in the southern section got us of to a nightmare start, a 2-0 defeat at London Road blew our Wembley dreams apart.
7 days later what a night we saw, helped on by the Barside roar! Twiggy and Buckle reduced the arrears and Paul Abrahams wiped away our tears!!!”
What a night that was! Almost 30 years ago (18 March 1997) 5,000 people crammed into Layer Road for an ‘Auto Windscreens Shield’ dead rubber! Or so they thought. However, as the famous Special Duties song went (above), Chris Fry, Paul Buckle and Colchester born Paul Abrahams scored the goals to send the majority of the crowd onto the Layer Road carpet to smother their heroes (before they could make it to The Drury Arms) after they secured their place in the final of the Auto Windscreens Shield at the old Wembley. As you all know, this was to be the second of three trips to Wembley in the 90s!
As a young 13-year-old, I along with a group of friends took our seats in the Clock-End. Apart from Abrahams’ goal and jumping the small barrier to get on the pitch my memory of the actual match is grainy. Needless to say though that this game goes down in the memory of most Col U fans of a certain generation as one of the best!
So, 30 years later, can The U’s find a way to end the Wembley draught and make our way to the famous Stadium for the first time since the re-development?
Now named the Vertu Trophy (maybe), or Bristol Street Motors Trophy (maybe) or maybe the Football League Trophy does not currently have a sponsor? This tournament has faced persistent controversy primarily due to the inclusion of Premier League and Championship Under-21 academy teams. Lower-league supporters frequently stage widespread boycotts in protest of B-teams/U-21 sides entering the pyramid, leading to record-low crowds at many fixtures. Strict competition regulations have forced awkward tactical workarounds, such as managers making immediate substitutions one minute into a match simply to comply with starting-eleven player quotas. However, the Cowleys have talked in recent seasons about taking the competition seriously, knowing full well that this, and the play-offs are the only realistic ways of smaller clubs like Colchester United have of getting to Wembley.
Last season, Col U topped their Group which contained old foes Wycombe, Gillingham and Former U’s manager Hayden Mullins’ Fulham U21 team. 3 wins from 3 and so into the “hat” for the next round and a guaranteed home match against a team that came 2nd in their group. Unlucky for Colchester, that team happened to be a strong West Ham U21 XI that ended up winning 0-1 and ending our campaign for another season.
Onto this season then, and although I have been refunded back my money from Colchester United for the Col U TV debacle, I am still unable to watch any ‘Full Match Replays’, so my predictions for the team line-up etc come from Extended Highlights and reviews on here and the official Col U Message board.
A chance to give The U’s reserves and youngsters a run-out in a “competitive” match against a Peterborough team that has parted company with First Team Manager Luke Williams after the performance against Doncaster Rovers the Board felt it had no other choice but to make a change. The Posh currently sit 23rd in League One winning just once after 7 league matches. However, the former Swansea City and Notts County boss lasted less than 11 months in the job, having replaced Darren Ferguson - who was in his fourth spell with the club - when the Posh were bottom of the table in October 2025. It was Luke Williams who persuaded Owura Edwards to join them on a free transfer from The U’s in the summer, so it will be interesting to see how a change of management will affect Edwards’ performances going forward.
Line-up
GK: Tom Smith
RB: KVY (if fit)
CB: Kuffour Jr
CB: Frankie Terry
LB: Jake Leake (if fit)
CM: Ben Perry (if fit)
CM: Milton Oni (if fit)
CM: Paul Digby
ST: Ihionvien
ST: Chiwome
ST: Jaden Williams (if not suspended)
Subs:
GK: Lo-Tutala, Hunt, Tucker, Max Jolliffe, Ronnie Harvey, Akande, Kien Connolly
Score Prediction
Anything can happen in these games, so let’s go 2-3 Col U! Let the shackles off and let both teams go for it!
Weather watch
Light cloud and light winds. 73% humidity. Very good visibility. Temperature feels like 23o Precipitation is not expected!
Up the U’s and let’s be cheering ‘Wembley, Wembley here we come” at 9pm |  |
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| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 13:07 - Sep 22 with 296 views | wessex_exile |
Nice one Ghughes, many thanks! You definitely drew the short straw when it came to predicting a line-up, but I'm certain many of those you've named will make an appearance at some point. For those of you not on the other side of the world, don't forget it's a 7pm kick-off tonight. |  |
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| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 13:16 - Sep 22 with 291 views | mfb_cufc |
The latest new name for this competition is the Jersey Mike Trophy. Famous for their North American style subs apparently. |  |
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| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 13:20 - Sep 22 with 291 views | bwildered |
A two legged final in the southern section got us of to a nightmare start, a 2-0 defeat at London Road blew our Wembley dreams apart.
Ricky Otto gave the U’s the run around all night, ( just like he used to the local constabulary in his off field activities ), but those leaving thought early goal at home could turn the balance has they should have won by more after being two up early in second half. New signing made his debut for the U ‘s that night …. Mark Sale . |  |
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| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 15:23 - Sep 22 with 246 views | RSCOSWORTH |
| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 13:07 - Sep 22 by wessex_exile |
Nice one Ghughes, many thanks! You definitely drew the short straw when it came to predicting a line-up, but I'm certain many of those you've named will make an appearance at some point. For those of you not on the other side of the world, don't forget it's a 7pm kick-off tonight. |
Definitely not an easy job that. I think a few that have been selected are injured plus I believe we have to field a number of players that figured on Saturday or in other league games. Not completely sure of the rules in play for this one. |  |
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| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 16:10 - Sep 22 with 224 views | mfb_cufc |
| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 15:23 - Sep 22 by RSCOSWORTH |
Definitely not an easy job that. I think a few that have been selected are injured plus I believe we have to field a number of players that figured on Saturday or in other league games. Not completely sure of the rules in play for this one. |
7.4 Qualifying Player means any Player who:
7.4.1 had started the immediately preceding First Team Fixture (as defined below);
7.4.2 subsequently starts the immediately following First Team Fixture;
7.4.3 is in the list of ten Players at the Club with the highest number of starting
appearances in First Team Fixtures in the same Season;
7.4.4 has made forty or more starting appearances in First Team Fixtures or international
equivalents (and not limited to the same Club or Season); or
7.4.5 is on standard loan from a Premier League Club or any EFL Club operating a
Category One Academy. | |
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| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 16:24 - Sep 22 with 221 views | Daniel |
The player eligibility rules (from Wikipedia):
Minimum of four qualifying outfield players in their starting XI. A qualifying outfield player was one who met any of the following requirements:
- Any player who started the previous or following first-team fixture.
- Any player who is in the top 10 players at the club who has made the most starting appearances in league and domestic cup competitions this season.
- Any player with forty or more first-team starting appearances in their career, including International matches.
- Any player on loan from a Premier League club or any EFL Category One Academy club.
A club can play any eligible goalkeeper in the competition.
Any player out on a long loan term at a National League, National League North, or National League South team can play as long as the loaning team agree to allow the player to return for the match.
That should cover KVY, Digby, Ihionvien and Chiwome. |  | | |
| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 17:48 - Sep 22 with 189 views | noah4x4 |
I believe it’s live on Sky Sports + via the red button. |  | | |
| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 18:25 - Sep 22 with 171 views | wessex_exile |
| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 13:07 - Sep 22 by wessex_exile |
Nice one Ghughes, many thanks! You definitely drew the short straw when it came to predicting a line-up, but I'm certain many of those you've named will make an appearance at some point. For those of you not on the other side of the world, don't forget it's a 7pm kick-off tonight. |
8 out of 11 correct Ghughes - good effort! Ben Perry makes a return too. | |
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| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 18:35 - Sep 22 with 165 views | Daniel |
No Ihionvien presumably because he's on loan from Peterborough (which is easy to forget) | | | |
| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 20:32 - Sep 22 with 103 views | ghughes11 |
Morning!
Just logged on, might log straight back off too after seeing the half time score!  | |
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| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 20:40 - Sep 22 with 98 views | wessex_exile |
HARVEY!!!! What a finish - still 3-1 though. | |
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| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 21:00 - Sep 22 with 83 views | ghughes11 |
Could be worse, could be Ipswich U21 managed by John McGreal who lost 6-0 vs Luton in the other Southern Group D match in our group! | |
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| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 21:14 - Sep 22 with 75 views | bwildered |
| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 20:40 - Sep 22 by wessex_exile |
HARVEY!!!! What a finish - still 3-1 though. |
Only shot on target . Perry had decent 45, Harvey put in shift, about it . | |
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| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 21:15 - Sep 22 with 74 views | wessex_exile |
| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 21:00 - Sep 22 by ghughes11 |
Could be worse, could be Ipswich U21 managed by John McGreal who lost 6-0 vs Luton in the other Southern Group D match in our group! |
Indeed, puts the U's in 3rd place with a +4 GD over the tractor botherers, but we still probably have to win our next two group games at home to proceed. I'm reasonably okay with tonight - 75% of a League 1 team against at best 25% of a League 2 team and we saw the result that would be expected in the first half. Second half, went it went more of 50% of each, we were much better. Posh were still mostly in control, but thanks to a wonder strike from Harvey we won the second half. Well done to the 160+ who made the journey, the real test will be on Saturday at Shrewsbury - can't wait. | |
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| Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough? on 22:35 - Sep 22 with 27 views | noah4x4 |
Worrying thing for me was Chiwome touched the ball only twice. Perhaps not his fault, as he got zero service from selfish colleagues that tried to beat too many defenders when a pass was warranted. Too often we consequently lost the ball and were then on the back-foot.
Vast improvement when Hunt and Payne came on. | | | |
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