Peterborough United have been promoted to the Coca-Cola Championship after a 1-0 victory over Colchester United and the shock defeat for Milton Keynes Dons against Walsall.

Manager Darren Ferguson was able to call upon the services of Gabriel Zakuani for the important fixture at Colchester United, the centre back reunited with Craig Morgan for the first time for several months. There was an early injury scare for Aaron Mclean, who took a knock from goalkeeper Dean Gerken following a long ball forward from Zakuani. After treatment from physiotherapist Keith Oakes, Mclean was allowed back on with a big plaster across his forehead.

An impressive burst forward from left-back Charlie Lee had the Posh faithful on their feet as he beat three defenders before powering into the penalty area, but goalkeeper Gerken made a smart save after racing from his goal-line.

Posh had the ball in the back of the net on seven minutes as Craig Mackail-Smith tucked the ball home from close-range, but the ball had already curled out of play as Coutts attempted to keep the pressure on.

Ashley Vineent fired over from long-range at the other end after a neat ball into his feet from Yeates. Posh won their fifth corner of the opening quarter of an hour following good work from Boyd, but Morgan couldn't keep his header down after Coutts' clipped delivery.

The U's won their first corner kick of the afternoon on 16 minutes and after Boyd only half-cleared at the near post, Yeates was able to try his luck, but his right-footed effort found the side-netting.

Marc Tierney glanced a header wide of the target on 20 minutes after a decent delivery into the box by right-back White. The home side were given a great opportunity to break the deadlock on 25 minutes as Morgan was penalised for handball right on the edge of the area. It was set-piece expert Yeates who stepped up, but he curled his shot wide of Joe Lewis' right hand post.

Paul Lambert's men were a whisker away from opening the scoring on the half hour mark as the pacy Vincent found space on the left hand side, he took a touch and drilled the ball across Lewis, but thankfully for Posh, it rolled wide of the far post.

Whelpdale, who had been on the periphery of the first 35 minutes, came in from the wing to drill a shot wide of the target with his left-foot as Posh threatened. That goal did arrive on 38 minutes as Boyd turned Yeates in the middle of the park and rolled the ball into the path of LEE, his first touch was fairly heavy, but it didn't deter him as he fired the ball into the roof of the net.

Posh had a glorious chance to make it 2-0 on 43 minutes as Mackail-Smith sprung the offside trap, but his first touch didn't really help him and as the angle narrowed, he couldn't lift the ball over Gerken, who made a brave stop.

Gerken was cautioned in the first minute of stoppage time for tripping Mclean, but the striker was well away from goal and it didn't appear to be a goal-scoring opportunity.

Neither side made any changes at the interval and both teams were greeted by warm sunshine as the second half got underway with Posh kicking towards their supporters behind Gerken's goal. Colchester were a whisker away from levelling the scores moments after the break as Yeates let fly from just inside the area, but the ball curled just the wrong side of the post from the U's perspective.

Chris Whelpdale and Tierney were both cautioned on 48 minutes after squaring up to each other following an aerial challenge that the Colchester man was not happy with. A snap-shot from Mclean was gathered at the second attempt by Gerken moments later before Ashley Vincent had the ball in the net at the other end, only to be denied by the offside flag.

Lee headed a Coutts corner wide of the target on 57 minutes after good work from Mackail-Smith in the channel. Mclean then saw a goal-bound shot blocked by Lockwood as the visitors continued to apply the pressure.

Experienced midfielder Keates was forced off with injury on the hour mark, giving Lee Frecklington a chance to shine. Mackail-Smith was inches away from converting a low Boyd centre just after the hour after more superb work from the former Stevenage Borough man.

A large cheer then came from the away end as they learned that Jabo Ibehre had given Walsall a shock lead at Milton Keynes. Substitute Wordsworth came close to scoring at the back post from a deep Yeates cross as Posh tried to calm their nerves.

Mackail-Smith headed a Martin cross wide of the goal and a second goal would surely kill this game off, but Posh just couldn't find that killer touch. Colchester introduced Matt Heath, a central defender by trade, as a makeshift attacker for the final quarter of an hour.

Goalkeeper Dean Gerken produced a world-class stop to deny Mackail-Smith's downward header on 75 minutes as Posh came even closer to that elusive second goal. Lockwood fired over on 81 minutes as the Dons went close to an equaliser at stadium: mk against Walsall.

Goalkeeper Gerken was playing a blinder and he made another superb stop to deny Whelpdale's low effort before Boyd fired the rebound over on the volley. Four minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official as Shaun Batt replaced Mclean in attack.

In the dying moments, Tierney sent an effort inches over the crossbar before referee Mr Attwell blew the final whistle leaving scenes of jubilation, but the with the result not yet in from MK, there was still time left before the celebrations could begin.

Final Score: Colchester United 0-1 Peterborough United

Referee: S Attwell
Attendance: 6,532