Richard Cresswell's 13^th goal of the season was enough to send the Potters to the top of the Championship after a battling 1-0 win over Colchester United.

The former Leeds man bundled Liam Lawrence's effort over the line in first half stoppage time to leave City needing only one point from next Sunday's clash against Leicester to secure promotion to the Premier League.

The Potters were good value for their win and could have won the game by a greater margin, with both Ricardo Fuller and Mamady Sidibe going agonisingly close.

Tony Pulis named an unchanged side ahead of the game after Sidibe passed a late fitness test on his hamstring.

A carnival atmosphere swept through Layer Road prior to the two teams arrival, with pyrotechnics, drums and two vocal sets of supporters raising the roof in the final ever game at the historic venue.

City started the game brightly with Liam Lawrence and Ricardo Fuller both causing the U's defence problems.

A couple of early trademark Rory Delap throw-in's almost led to an early goal for the Potters with both Richard Cresswell and Fuller coming close.

Lawrence's endeavour on the wing won the Potters a corner which almost resulted in Leon Cort heading City ahead, however Dean Gerken reacted brilliantly to palm the ball over the bar.

Jamaican international Fuller latched on to a clever Sidibe flick but fired straight at Gerken with Richard Cresswell open inside the 6-yard box.

Two minutes later he again found his way through the United rearguard but blazed his shot over the bar from 12-yards.

Geraint Williams' side had their first half chance in the 29^th minute, but after rising highest in the City penalty area Kevin Lisbie flicked his header wide of the left hand post.

With news coming in that Crystal Palace had levelled against Hull City the Potters looked to have been given a second wind and right on the stroke of half time Cresswell fired the Potters in to a 1-0 lead.

The former Leeds man reacted quickest to Gerken's exceptional save from Lawrence to bundle the ball over the line much to the jubilation of the 950 travelling supporters and the near 10,000 packed in to the Seddon Stand at the Britannia Stadium beam-back.

City returned from the half time interval and looked desperate to extend their advantage.

Firstly Lawrence curled an exquisite 30-yard free kick inches past the right hand post, before Malian international Sidibe acrobatically fired inches wide.

Another Delap long throw in had the U's defence in a spin but Cort and Sidibe failed to latch on to the ball.

The introduction of veteran striker Teddy Sheringham re-ignited the home support as they roared their side on desperately in hope of an equaliser.

Referee Kevin Friend refused to hand City what appeared to be a blatant penalty after Fuller was hacked down inside the penalty area after bursting through on goal.

An exceptional piece of work down the left wing from Fuller led to City's joint top scorer firing the ball across the goal, inches in front of the flying Sidibe.

City's hearts were in their mouth late on as substitute Clive Platt flicked the ball past Carlo Nash and in to the back of the net to send the home supporters wild.

However the linesman had his flag up for a foul of the on loan Wigan stopper.

The Potters fought bravely late on to thwart a desperate Colchester United attack and hold out for what could be one of the biggest wins in the clubs history.