The U's signed off FA Cup football at Layer Road losing 3-1 to League 2 side Peterborough United.

Colchester United - a name engraved on FA Cup history for all the right reasons - fell at the first attempt this afternoon to a lively Peterborough United who fully deserved their place in the Fourth Round. Quicker, better organised, and with more heart and desire than anyone U's player, goals from Mclean, Boyd and Lee saw them advance in the last ever FA Cup tie to be played at Layer Road. Even the U's goal appeared generous as Andre Marriner awarded the home side a spot-kick which Sheringham converted.

Following the New Years Day win at Charlton, U's fans were more optimistic of the days ahead though many voted with their feet in a crowd of just over four thousand with a quarter of those making the trip down from Cambridgeshire. Geraint Williams made just one change to the side that had started at The Valley with Clive Platt missing altogether apparently unwell though he was at the ground and talking to fans before the kick off.

Peterborough had nineteen goal Aaron Mclean upfront as he returned to the ground where he played a couple of reserve team games a few years ago under Phil Parkinson's reign. Signed from non-league football, he was partnered by Craig Mackail-Smith - the former Dagenham striker - with Micah Hyde and goalkeeper Mark Tyler providing some experience.

With Posh fans hoping for an upset it was clear that the U's had to exert their supposed superiority on the League Two outfit. However, it was the visitors who made the brighter start.

The opening goal came just a couple of minutes as Aaron Mclean caused early problems for the U's defence. His initial effort was blocked by Virgo towards Gerken who did well to keep the ball in play - only the Assistant on the far side thought otherwise and awarded a corner which even the Posh players hadn't claimed. However, whether the decision to give the corner was correct or not is immaterial as the U's allowed Mclean - one of the smallest players on the pitch - to run unmarked in to the six yard box to stoop to head Jeff Hughes' corner in to the net. Very poor defending and while Elokobi appealed that he had been fouled, I couldn't honestly see anything that would have prevented him from getting the ball - the Posh man had more desire.

At least conceding an early goal meant that the U's had some 88 minutes to ensure that this wouldn't be the last ever FA Cup tie at Layer Road. However, it was the visitors who had taken the game by the scruff of the neck and looked the more likely to find the net next. Boyd mis-hit a shot across the goal which Whelpdale almost managed to get on the end off before the U's finally made in-roads of the Peterborough goal as McLeod's header across goal was almost sliced in to his own net by Charnock.

Boyd, signed for a quarter of a million from Stevenage Borough last year, then saw another effort go across the face of Gerken’s goal. The visitors looked full of confidence in their own game while the U's seemingly did not. This was shown up by Yeates' side-footed effort when put through by Sheringham which was easily saved by Tyler - at the start of the season the Irishman would have put his foot through and ball and really tested the keeper.

Gerken had to be alert at his near post when Mclean sneaked in ahead of Baldwin to divert the ball goalwards from six yards out. The U's keeper had to dive back the other way as he was going across goal to keep the effort out which thankfully, didn't have a great deal of pace on the ball. Minutes later and it was the far post which came to the U's rescue as Mclean - only 5ft 8" - jumped highest to head towards goal only to see them ball come back off the woodwork.

United should have got back in to the game minutes later through Jackson who spurned a glorious chance with just the keeper to beat. It came after that rarest of things from the U's this season - a passing move. That is, a move that had seen the ball passed along the ground to various players unlike this hoof and chase rubbish which has been installed by Assistant Manager Micky Adams. The move was perfect and found Yeates, who looked up, saw Jackson - who had played the ball during the move and continued his run - unmarked and picked him out which left the former Spurs man just needing to head past Tyler from a couple of yards out. Sadly, the current U's skipper headed straight at the veteran shot-stopper. If we were being kind we might say that the cross had little power on it and Jackson had to create his own via his neck muscles, but even he'll admit he should have scored.

Just three minutes from halftime the U's got the lifeline they so desperately needed as referee Marriner awarded them a dubious spot-kick. Lisbie appeared to fall dramatically to the ground as the ball came in and after protests from the Posh players, Sheringham's excellent penalty - in the top right corner - meant that the scores were back level.

Despite the fact that there were only minutes to go, the visitors looked to get back in to the lead as Gerken did well to parry Aaron Mclean's shot from the edge of the box away. Thankfully, the U's did manage to get to the break on level terms - but it surely can't have impressed the former Spurs duo of Martin Jol and Chris Houghton who were surprising guests at Layer Road this afternoon.

Still, level at the break and no doubt, of George's words of wisdom at the break - and a substitution or two - the U's would come out ready to storm in to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. How wrong we were.

There were one or two sniggers from the crowd as Posh went through a mini-warm-up prior to the second half, but it certainly livened them up as they went straight up to the Layer Road End and resumed their leadership of the cup-tie. Again, it was Whelpdale who caused the problem, bamboozling Elokobi - who had a game that will frighten off the scouts of Celtic, Reading, Wolves, and will probably find him struggling to get in to the Cubs First XI at this rate - before flinging a cross to the far post where the unmarked Boyd steadied himself before volleying past Gerken and in to the far corner of the net.

Mmm, that'll make things interesting! The U's hadn't looked like finding one goal let alone two. Sheringham touched over Mark Yeates' free kick before United made their first change of the afternoon with Karl Duguid replacing Kevin McLeod. Though there could be little argument that the former Swansea winger was the right man to go, many felt that the presence of Kem Izzet in a midfield which was being over-run time and time again would be more worthwhile than a fullback who isn't exactly know for his creativity. The switch also saw Doogie go to right midfield with Yeates on the left - but Duguid's best football of the last two seasons has been when on the left hand side of midfield. Altogether, a confusing change by the under-fire U's manager.

Jeff Hughes then curled a free-kick well over the bar of United's before Adam Virgo launched himself full-length to block Aaron Mclean's effort after Craig Mackail-Smith had made room for himself down the left. Tyler fumbled a Yeates free kick but a defender was there to clear before Sheringham could apply a final touch before Duguid blasted over after being well set-up by Yeates who timed the pass to perfection for a change.

Mackail-Smith, the top-scorer in the competition so far with seven, then produced a fantastic ball from the right to the near post which John White did really well to head behind for a corner. However, from the corner, the U's allowed the diminutive Charlie Lee to ghost in unmarked to head Posh in to a 3-1 lead.

Immediately, Sheringham was replaced by Jamie Guy but again the substitution made little sense to those in the stands aside from the veteran’s legs starting to fade. The U's needed two goals now to take the game in to a replay - so now was surely the time to take off a defender and go to a 4-3-3 formation inn search of goals. Sure, Teddy might not have moved much but at least give it a go instead of being stuck in a 4-4-2 formation that never really looked like bringing the game back to the U's.

Worryingly, with fifteen minutes to go, U's fans started to leave the ground in droves while fractious arguments started between fans. Worse, Mark Yeates was seen to mouth an obscenity at the fans on Terrace Four as relationships started to crumble. U's fans know just how poor this side is, and that there is far too much work to be done between now and May that relegation looks a certainty.

United did try to get back in to the game, Tyler had to tip Jackson's cross-cum-shot over the bar though I suspect it was always going over anyway while Lisbie set up Duguid for another effort which was well saved by Tyler.

This was a damaging result for the U's. I said after the Blackpool defeat that Geraint had two games to save himself but that the Charlton win might have done that. He's back to step one now though and, if he really loves the job he'll make the tough decision that he needs to release Micky Adams from his position, and re-employ Mick Harford or someone else who likes the game played on the grass.

My final words to the players: pass the ball. It really isn't that hard to do.

Shot of the Match: Aaron Mclean found space on the edge of the box to let fly a shot which Gerken did well to parry.

Save of the Match: Gerken did well to get distance on the parry from Mclean

Moment of the Match: Tyler's save from Jackson's weak header might just have been the turning point.

Man of the Match: Only two players stood out for me. Kevin Lisbie was full of running but created little so my MOTM goes to Dean Gerken who just about kept the U's in the game.

Colchester: Gerken, White, Baldwin, Virgo, Elokobi, Yeates, Guttridge, Jackson, McLeod (Duguid 60), Lisbie, Sheringham (Guy 73). Subs Not Used: Cousins, Izzet, Balogh.

Goals: Sheringham 43 pen.

Peterborough: Tyler, Newton, Morgan, Charnock, Hughes, Whelpdale (Gnakpa 86), Lee, Hyde, Boyd, Mclean, Mackail-Smith (Howe 89). Subs Not Used: Low, Keates, Strachan.

Booked: Whelpdale, Morgan.

Goals: Mclean 4, Boyd 46, Lee 73.

Att: 4,003

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Photo: Action Images

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