Ipswich Town 3 - 1 Colchester United

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Tuesday Oct 23 2007 07:45

Ipswich Town came from a goal down to record a derby success over local rivals Colchester United and notch up their ninth straight home win, the club's best run for 25 years.

Colchester had looked on course for a first win at Portman Road in 56 years when they led 1-0 through Clive Platt's 25-yard volley and were then awarded a controversial 70th minute penalty.

Town keeper Neil Alexander was ruled to have tripped Kevin Lisbie, but he made amends by keeping out Mark Yeates' penalty.

Two minutes later, Town levelled through Jon Walters, and went on to claim the points with late goals from subs Liam Trotter - his first senior goal - and a first of the season for Danny Haynes.

In a surprisingly tame first half, it was fully 22 minutes before either keeper was tested, with Aidan Davison dealing with Pablo Counago's 20-yard curler fairly comfortably.

Alexander palmed over a back-header by Platt from a George Elokobi long throw, before Alan Lee blocked Danny Granville's header from the ensuing corner, with Colchester claiming he'd used a hand, but ref Keith Stroud was unmoved.

On 31 minutes the visitors went ahead with a superb goal. Johnnie Jackson chested down Elokobi's left-wing cross and Platt fired a fierce shot beyond the helpless Alexander.

Davison saved from Lee as Town tried to rally and then Pat Baldwin hooked a dangerous Dan Harding cross over his own bar with Lee waiting to pounce and then Alexander saved a Granville header from a Yeates corner.

Colchester should have made it 2-0 on 38 minutes when Platt broke clear and lobbed the advancing Alexander, but, with Jason De Vos rushing back, Platt dragged his shot woefully wide.

Both sides created chances in the second half, without really carving each other open, with probably the best opportunity being Matt Connolly's far post header from a Jackson corner which was well saved by Alexander.

Counago volleyed wide for Town from a good position before the key moment in the match, with Yeates seeing his spot-kick saved by Alexander diving to his right.

Town were level on 72 minutes when Counago pulled the ball back to Harding whose fierce low cross was controlled by Walters and volleyed home from eight yards.

Sub Haynes made a fine block to deny Platt from a quick Colchester break before Town went ahead on 81 minutes when another replacement, Trotter, was left completely unmarked to head past Davison from six yards.

Town then clinched the points with six minutes to go when a deep ball from Fabian Wilnis was allowed to bounce by the Colchester defence and Haynes nipped in to nod over an exposed Davison.

The final scoreline was probably a little harsh on Colchester, but Ipswich won't care as the result lifts them back into the play-off places.

  • 90
    That's it, it's all over, the referee has blown the final whistle.
  • 87
    Ipswich are replacing Pablo Counago with Gary Roberts.
  • 84
    Goal!! Danny Haynes scores for Ipswich.
  • 83
    Colchester are replacing Danny Granville with Kevin McLeod.
  • 82
    Goal!! Liam Trotter scores for Ipswich.
  • 77
    Mark Yeates is being taken off, Teddy Sheringham has come on in his place.
  • 77
    Sylvain Legwinski is being taken off, Liam Trotter has come on in his place.
  • 74
    The referee has booked Kemal Izzet.
  • 72
    Goal!! Jon Walters scores for Ipswich.
  • 69
    Neil Alexander is booked for unsporting behaviour.
  • 62
    Billy Clarke is being taken off, Danny Haynes has come on in his place.
  • 46
    The second half is under way with the score currently at 0 v 1.
  • 45
    The ref has blown his whistle for half time.
  • 45
    The referee has booked Dan Harding.
  • 31
    Goal!! Colchester have scored with Clive Platt putting it in the back of the net.
  • 0
    It's 7:45pm on Tuesday, October 23rd, the match has kicked off.

Statistics

Ipswich Town
Shots on target 5
Shots off target 8
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 11
Offsides 4
Corners 7

Colchester United
Shots on target 1
Shots off target 6
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 15
Offsides 5
Corners 11

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