IT is 25 years ago today since Colchester United suffered penalty heartache at Wembley Stadium.
On this day in 1997, the U's were beaten 4-3 on penalties by Carlisle United in the Auto Windscreens Shield Final.
It was the first time that Colchester have ever appeared in the final of the Football League Trophy.
There were few chances for either side, in the 90 minutes.
The final finished 0-0 after extra-time, in front of a crowd of 45,077.
It meant that the game had to be decided on penalties and after Carlisle keeper Tony Craig saved from both Peter Cawley and Karl Duguid from the spot, the U's were beaten 4-3 on spot-kicks.
Carlisle captain Steve Hayward netted the all-important penalty.
The Colchester team that day was Carl Emberson, Joe Dunne, Paul Gibbs, David Gregory, David Greene, Peter Cawley, Richard Wilkins, Mark Sale, Steve Whitton, Tony Adcock, Paul Abrahams. Substitutes: Chris Fry, Adam Locke, Karl Duguid.
Colchester returned to Wembley Stadium, 12 months later.
And that game had a far happier ending for the U's, as they clinched victory in the Division Three Play-Off Final with a 1-0 triumph over Torquay United, courtesy of David Gregory's penalty.
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