THE dream is effectively over, but Colchester United can hold their heads up high after a rip-roaring play-off showdown at Stoke City on Saturday.The U's quest for a top-six finish was on course at half-time thanks to Chris Iwelumo's 38th minute penalty but Stoke struck three times in a nine-minute spell to seal a 3-1 victory.

By Carl Marston

THE dream is effectively over, but Colchester United can hold their heads up high after a rip-roaring play-off showdown at Stoke City on Saturday.

The U's quest for a top-six finish was on course at half-time thanks to Chris Iwelumo's 38th minute penalty but Stoke struck three times in a nine-minute spell to seal a 3-1 victory.

Barring a series of freak results, United's play-off hopes are over, but skipper Karl Duguid is remaining upbeat. “It's been a great season and you never know - we could win 5-0 next weekend and still be in with a chance!” said Duguid wryly.

The U's are three points behind sixth-placed Southampton and seventh-placed Stoke. They also have an inferior goal difference, with just one game remaining at home to Crystal Palace next Sunday.

Duguid continued: “I thought we played our best football of the season in the first half. We pinned Stoke back in their half, which is what we wanted to happen.

“We also won the penalty to take the lead, but we really needed to be more than 1-0 up at half-time.

“A crazy 15 minutes at the start of the second-half cost us. We didn't deal with it, conceding three goals, but we can't really complain because we've had a superb season.”