KARL Duguid ended 54 years of hurt for Colchester United - and scooped a 75-1 winner for his cousin in the process.The U's skipper netted the only goal of the game to give the Essex club a deserved victory although Ipswich had a Jon Macken goal controversially ruled out for an alleged push on the keeper.

By Derek Davis

KARL Duguid ended 54 years of hurt for Colchester United - and scooped a 75-1 winner for his cousin in the process.

The U's skipper netted the only goal of the game to give the Essex club a deserved victory although Ipswich had a Jon Macken goal controversially ruled out for an alleged push on the keeper.

An ecstatic Duguid said: “My cousin Alvin had me down as first goal-scorer in a 1-0 win at 75-1 and when he told me I just laughed at him but it has come off so the drinks are on him this weekend.

“This win has been a long time coming and the fans will love it. Forget Southend - this is the one they wanted to win and I'm just glad to be a part of it.”

The win extended the U's unbeaten run to six games and Duguid insisted they were now showing they should not be underestimated.

He said: “We may have a small ground but we have players here that are good enough to be in this division. It is not the size of your ground that matters, it is the quality of the players and we are showing we are good enough to be in this division.”

U's skipper Karl Duguid put Colchester ahead after Lewis Price saved from Jamie Cureton but the club's longest-serving player buried the rebound.

The Blues had a goal disallowed four minutes after the break when Jon Macken followed up an Alan Lee shot that was saved but was ruled to have fouled the keeper.

Blues boss Jim Magilton though had no complaints and insisted the U's were worthy winners.

Magilton said: “Colchester were value for money for their win. I was very disappointed at the manner in which we lost the goal and we never got out of the blocks. We were second best while Colchester rose to the occasion.

“The players have got the big international break to dwell on this as well. They have to take responsibility and they will have to do it.

“Whether the goal should have been allowed or not doesn't matter. I would have taken the point but if I had been George [U's boss Geraint Williams] I would have been disappointed. Colchester deserved to win.

“Colchester started the game brightly and in derby games you have to win the battle and we were second best. Against Sunderland and Birmingham we took the fight to them but we didn't against Colchester and as a manager I can't explain that.

“You send the players out looking ready but it didn't happen. Colchester didn't allow us a toehold in the game and you have to take your hat off to George Williams and his team.”