COLCHESTER United will have brand new Football League opponents next season after Sutton United earned a historic promotion to League Two.

Sutton, for whom former U's midfielder Craig Eastmond has been a key player over the past six years, thumped Hartlepool United 3-0 to claim the National League title and promotion to the Football League for the first time in 123 years.

Next season will see the clubs meet for the first time in the league but they have faced each other before, in the FA Cup.

Colchester were beaten 4-3 by Sutton in the FA Cup first round at Layer Road, back in 1993.

Rob Milsom, Louis John and Isaac Olaofe sent Sutton into League Two with a commanding victory over their promotion rivals.

Full-back Milsom saw his low free-kick spilled into the net by Middlesbrough loan goalkeeper Brad James, while defender John bagged his third goal in as many games.

And at the death Milwall loan striker Olaofe slotted his fourth goal in successive matches, to take his tally for the campaign to 14.

Sutton pulled off one of the FA Cup's greatest giant killings by defeating 1987 winners Coventry 2-1 in the third round in 1989.

But the Gander Green Lane club have surely now topped that feat, having won promotion to League Two.

Salford loan striker Luke Armstrong thought he had scrambled a second-half equaliser for Hartlepool, only for the effort to be chalked off for handball.

Sutton kept pressing for full control however, and were rewarded when John's low effort was deflected into the net.

And with Hartlepool desperately chasing a route back into the contest at the death, Olaofe strode onto the ball and delivered the killer-blow third goal.