Hosts Colchester were looking to end an era with a rare victory, but they remained rooted to the bottom of the Championship tale following yet another defeat.
The game did not really mark the occasion - Layer Road has been hosting football for 101 years - but that won't worry Stoke, who came up with the winner in first-half stoppage time.
Richard Cresswell was the marksman from close range. Rory Delap hurled one of his trademark long throws into the penalty area and, although keeper Dean Gerken managed to keep out Cresswell's initial header, Liam Lawrence rifled the rebound back into the six-yard box for Cresswell to divert home, the ball seeming to come off his knee.
Delap's long throws caused problems for the U's all afternoon and the home side did not really threaten an equaliser until the dying minutes.
With time fast running out on this famous old ground, Colchester put in one last effort and substitute Clive Platt thought that he'd headed home an equaliser from John White's cross, only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul.
Deep into stoppage time keeper Carlo Nash, who had not really had a save to make all match, was finally called into action when blocking a goalbound drive from Kevin Lisbie.
But Stoke held out and are now in pole position to wrap up automatic promotion next weekend, when they entertain Leicester City.
In fact, for a long time it appeared as though Stoke would be celebrating promotion on the day, but their hopes were dashed by Hull City scoring a late winner against Crystal Palace.
That means that the Potteries club still have a bit to do to secure promotion next weekend. By contrast, Colchester have been doomed to relegation for weeks, and they end their season at Scunthorpe when they say goodbye to the Championship next Sunday.