Colchester United will make history tonight (Wednesday) as the last team to stage a Football League match during the current millennium.

And the Layer Road Second Division clash against arch rivals Wycombe Wanderers will also provide players from both teams with a chance to etch their name in history as the last player to score this century.

But one player who won't be getting his name on the scoresheet is the U's promising teenager Lomana Tresor Lua Lua who picked up an unwanted 19th birthday present in training yesterday, an achilles injury, which has forced him out of tonight's match.

The U's have come a long way in the 126 years since the club first appeared as The Oysters in October 1873, performing in the Borough League - commonly known now as the Essex and Suffolk Border League - and playing their matches at the long defunct Cambridge Road ground.

"All that history is great for the fans," said U's boss Steve Whitton as he prepared his squad to end the millennium with another three points.

"As fas as I am concerned the Wycombe game is just another game we must be looking to win and if we do we can go forward into the next century on a high note with everything to look forward to.

"Other results went our way yesterday so it is up to us to capitalise tonight.

"If we do we can move up the table another three places and open up a useful gap between us and many of the teams below us."

The U's boss said he expected his players to remain professional about the occasion.

He said: "I don't expect anyone to be shooting from here, there and everywhere in the hope they will score the final goal of the millennium.

"All I want is a win and the lads know that. I want to win tonight and at Blackpool next Monday to wrap up our Christmas and New Year programme with six points."

Flu victims Simon Brown and Joe Dunne are both expected to play and there will be late fitness tests for Jason Dozzell (bruised foot) and Gavin Johnson (pelvic injury).

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.