1998 Football League Third Division play-off Final

1998 Football League Third Division play-off final

Event	1997–98 Football League Third Division
Colchester United Torquay United 1 0
Date	22 May 1998
Venue	Wembley Stadium, London
Referee	M. Fletcher
Attendance	19,486[1]

The 1998 Football League Third Division play-off final was a football match contested by Colchester United and Torquay United on 22 May 1998 at Wembley Stadium to decide the third team to be promoted from Division Three to Division Two for the 1998–99 season.

Under Division Three play-off rules, the final is contested by the two teams which secured an aggregate victory over two-legged semi-finals, with the team that finished seventh in the league table (Barnet) having played fourth place (Colchester United), and sixth place (Scarborough) having played fifth place (Torquay United).

Route to the final

Pos	Club	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
4	Colchester United	46	21	11	14	72	60	+12	74
5	Torquay United	46	21	11	14	68	59	0+9	74
6	Scarborough	46	19	15	12	67	58	0+9	72
7	Barnet	46	19	13	14	61	51	+10	70

Semi-finals

First leg

Barnet v Colchester United

10 May 1998

Barnet	1–0	Colchester United
Heald  48' Devine  82'	Report	Branston  82'

Underhill, Barnet Attendance: 3,858 Referee: E Wolstenholme

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Scarborough v Torquay United

10 May 1998

Scarborough	1–3	Torquay United
Rockett  40'	Report	Jack  22' Gittens  50' McFarlane  72'

McCain Stadium, Scarborough Attendance: 5,246 Referee: M Pierce

Second leg

Colchester United v Barnet

13 May 1998

Colchester United	3–1 (a.e.t.)	Barnet
Gregory  12' (pen.), 95' Greene  65'	Report	Goodhind  41' Howarth  59'

Layer Road, Colchester Attendance: 5,863 Referee: T Heilbron

Colchester United won 3–2 on aggregate.

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Torquay United v Scarborough

13 May 1998

Torquay United	4–1	Scarborough
Jack  6' (7) McCall  38' Gibbs  55'	Report	Rockett  22' Williams  28'

Plainmoor, Torquay Attendance: 5,386 Referee: R Harris

Torquay United won 7–2 on aggregate.

Final

Colchester United v Torquay United

22 May 1998 19:45 BST

Colchester United	1–0	Torquay United
Gregory  22' (pen.)	Report [2]

Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 19,486 Referee: Mick Fletcher

COLCHESTER UNITED: GK 1 Carl Emberson DF 2 Joe Dunne DF 3 Simon Betts DF 4 Aaron Skelton  82' DF 5 David Greene MF 6 David Gregory MF 7 Richard Wilkins MF 8 Paul Buckle MF 11 Steve Forbes FW 9 Mark Sale FW 10 Neil Gregory  70' Substitutes: FW 12 Tony Lock  70' MF 13 Karl Duguid  82' MF 14 Paul Abrahams Manager: Steve Wignall

TORQUAY UNITED: GK 1 Matt Gregg DF 2 Andy Gurney DF 3 Paul Gibbs DF 4 Jamie Robinson DF 5 Jon Gittens DF 6 Alex Watson MF 7 Gary Clayton MF 8 Chris Leadbitter MF 11 Steve McCall  72' FW 9 Rodney Jack FW 10 Andy McFarlane  84' Substitutes: FW 12 Tony Bedeau  72' DF 13 Wayne Thomas  84' MF 14 Kevin Hill Manager: Kevin Hodges

MATCH RULES

• 90 minutes.
• 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
• Penalty shootout if scores still level.
• Maximum of 3 substitutions.

References

1. "Colchester United - Match Details". coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
2. Riley, Catherine (23 May 1998). "Gregory's goal lifts Colchester". The Independent (London). Retrieved 1 December 2014.