Colchester United have a proud cup record to maintain when they take on Cheltenham Town in the LDV Vans Trophy first round at Whaddon Road tonight.

The U's have never lost a cup game to the Robins in their 65-year professional history.

But you have to go back to a four-year period between 1945-48 to uncover the Layer Road men's dominance over their recently-promoted hosts.

The two clubs were flying high in the old Southern League at the time when they were pitched together in four League Cup outings.

Bob Hodgson netted the only goal in the first-ever meeting at Whaddon Road while George Bidewell (two) and Paddy Shiels scored in a 3-3 return at Layer Road.

Two seasons later the year of the U's epic '47-48 FA Cup run there was just no stopping Ted Fenton's all-conquering Colchester squad.

Bob Curry blasted a hat-trick backed by a Len Cater brace and a goal apiece for Harry Bearryman and Fred Cutting as the U's ran riot 7-1 at home, while Cater (two), Arthur Townrow and Arthur Turner scored in a 4-0 away return.

It took Cheltenham, currently managed by Graham Allner, another 54 years to join the U's in League action.

And with former U's star Mark Yates prominent in midfield, they have already shared a one-all Second Division draw at Layer Road in September courtesy of a Tony Naylor header on the stroke of half-time.

But boasting only two wins one at home and one away in 14 League outings to date the Robins are finding the going really tough right on the bottom of the table.

They have lost four of their seven home games and have managed just eight goals while conceding 13 along the way.

One of those was against high-flying Queens Park Rangers only last Saturday where they picked up a welcome one-all draw thanks to a second-half equaliser from Martin Devaney.

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Published Tuesday October 22, 2002

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