Salford City emphatically beat Colchester United 4-1 to climb into the League Two play-off places with one game remaining.
Hakeeb Adelakun, Liam Shephard and Cole Stockton all found the back of the net inside the opening 25 minutes, as The Ammies blitzed their way to an unassailable half-time lead.
Adelakun scored his second penalty of the match to add a fourth after the interval before Colchester full-back Ellis Iandolo rifled home a consolation goal midway through the second-half.
On an occasion when Karl Robinson’s side knew only a win would keep their ambitions of a top-seven finish alive, Salford produced a lightning-fast start to sweep their opponents aside and put any lingering pre-match nerves to rest.
The grim fate Colchester fans who had made the 490-mile round trip to the Peninsula stadium would suffer was foreshadowed inside the opening two minutes when Ben Woodburn was brought down in the penalty area by Fiacre Kelleher.
Adelakun converted from the spot, sending U’s goalkeeper Matt Macey the wrong way, to give Salford the lead just as many supporters were taking their seats.
With the visiting defence in disarray, Adelakun found himself in acres of space at the back post and went close to doubling The Ammies’ advantage when he flashed a fierce drive into the side netting.
It took an excellent diving save from Macey to prevent Cole Stockton’s shot on the turn from nestling in the bottom corner as Salford pressed for a second.
The pressure finally told after 21 minutes when right-back Ben Shephard opened his account for the season in style by placing a low shot off the inside of the post, past a despairing Macey.
There was little the Colchester goalkeeper could do to prevent Cole Stockton from adding a third either, as the imposing target man controlled Ossama Ashley’s flick-on under pressure, shook off challenges from several defenders and fired home to put Salford supporters in dreamland.
Cutting a figure of increasing anger, Colchester manager Danny Cowley lambasted his side for their wretched performance as play stopped for Macey to receive medical treatment on the pitch.
His scathing team talk almost had an immediate effect as 21-year-old winger Oscar Thorn had a goal ruled out for a foul in the build-up, before the young attacker saw his effort from range clip the outside of the post moments later as the visitors rallied before half-time.
But any concerns Colchester would mount an unlikely comeback were alleviated inside a sunny Peninsula stadium as Adelakun rolled home a 56th-minute penalty, after Shephard was fouled in the box by Iandolo.
2 more for Haks 😁#SALCOL | @hakeeb_adelakun pic.twitter.com/IgHnuuCprK
— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) April 26, 2025
The defender made amends for his involvement in Salford’s fourth, when he crashed the ball through a crowd of bodies to claw back a consolation goal.
But The Ammies eased their way through the remainder of the match without conceding any clear-cut chances to take advantage of Grimsby Town’s 0-0 draw at MK Dons and move into the play-off places.
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