Colchester v Scunthorpe United

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Football League Championship

Colchester :
Gerken, Duguid, Baldwin, Virgo, Elokobi, Yeates, Izzet (Guttridge 71), McLeod (Guy 58), Jackson, Lisbie, Platt
Subs not used:
Cousins, Granville, Connolly

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Cork, Butler, Byrne, Youga, Taylor (Williams 83), Goodwin, Sparrow, Hurst, Hayes, Forte (May 89)
Subs not used:
Lillis, Baraclough, McBreen

SULSESC REPORT

by Mal Watson at Layer Road

Colchester versus Scunny in the Championship. Who would have thought it?

The battle of the minnows in this league. After Colchester's success last season in just missing out on the playoffs there has been a lot of wondering if Scunny could emulate them this season in not just surviving but possibly exceeding all expectations and perhaps finish in the top half, but it was ironic that if Scunny were to do that this this is the sort of match that we had to get something from.

One advantage of a game between two of the smallest teams in this league meant that the the pre-match preparations were pretty much as they would have been if it had been a League 2 game. Plenty of drinking time then and Colchester is an excellent place to partake of the real ales. A swift pint at Liverpool Street before the train and then self restraint was needed to try and pace ourselves before the match. A trip to Colchester is a marathon and not a sprint but even SS quickly exceeded his 3 pint limit and went for 7-0 to Scunny in the sweepstake!

In the match itself Crosby was unfit so Byrne moved to centre back and Cork came in at right back. I must admit I was a bit concerned about Byrne playing at centre back because it is quite a while since he has played there but he put in a sterling performance. Cork at right back looked very composed and did an excellent job. Paterson was also unfit so Forte was played as partner to Hayes. The match itself was played at a frantic pace and to be honest the play was more appropriate to the natural levels of these two teams rather than the exalted level of the Championship at which the match was being played. Having said that it was a quality effort from

Hayes that proved to be the only goal of the match. A cross came over from the left headed back towards Hayes who flicked it over the defender and then volleyed it into the net. If he intended to do that then it was a remarkable piece of skill.

Unless we get drawn here in the Cup (or the playoffs!) this will be the last game for Scunny at Colchester before they move to their new ground. I must admit that I have mixed views on how I feel on that. Where the current ground is there are some excellent watering holes on the way to the ground.

However, it has to be said that the facilities at Layer Road for away supporters are very poor with poor viewing and inadequate sanitary arrangements. The new ground should address these issues but unfortunately is in the opposite direction from the station and according to a local who we were speaking to after the match there are no hostelries close to where the new ground is. C'est la vie - swings and roundabouts.