JAMIE Cureton was like a “bear with a sore head” after missing a first-half sitter at Hull but the Championship's Golden Boot contender was not to be denied.

By Carl Marston

JAMIE Cureton was like a “bear with a sore head” after missing a first-half sitter at Hull but the Championship's Golden Boot contender was not to be denied.

Cureton kept alive Colchester's dream of gate-crashing the play-offs by plundering a 63rd-minute equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw and so leave the U's four points adrift of the top six with three games remaining. U's boss Geraint Williams admitted that his 31-year-old goal-poacher was inconsolable at half-time. On another day, he could have bagged a hat-trick.

“Jamie [Cureton] can't put every chance away! But he hates it when he misses,” insisted Williams. “We had enough chances to be leading even before half-time. Jamie was moaning and he wouldn't talk to anyone.

“He was like a bear with a sore head in the dressing room at half-time but we gave it a real go in the second half and Jamie got his goal.

“We're a little bit disappointed not to have won. Our sloppy start to the game probably cost us in the end, but we looked like the only team who was going to win it. The players have not let me down this year, and they played with freedom and no nerves in the second half,” added Williams.

Cureton has now scored 23 goals in all competitions this season.