A goal in each half by Scott Vernon gave the U's - and more importantly, their fans - the bragging rights over Ipswich Town this afternoon at Layer Road

On Grand National Day it was Ipswich Town - with a horse proud on their club chest - who came in last at Layer Road today as Scott Vernon's double gave the U's fans the summer gift they wanted in the A12 Derby. His first came just before the half-hour mark after good work by Kevin Lisbie before his 73rd minute strike guaranteed the points for the home side. In addition, Ipswich became the first side this season to fail to score at Layer Road.

U's manager Geraint Williams made two changes to the side that had started against West Brom last weekend. Matt Heath replaced Pat Baldwin at the heart of the U's defence while Scott Vernon stood in for the injured Clive Platt. Medy Eliot, who scored his first senior goal at the Hawthorns last weekend, continued on the left-hand side while Karl Duguid was looking to score again against the old enemy from North of the county border.

Town had Canadian central defender Jason De Vos skippering the side as he thought about the new contract that had been offered to him. He wasn't the only non-English player in the ranks though with Ireland, Spain and Macedonia also represented. Human submarine Alan Lee led the line - though he preferred to do so at ground level.

Not surprisingly there was a full-house at Layer Road for this clash of two teams just a handful of miles apart. Nerves seem to affect the U's early on as Duguid was lucky to see his sliced attempt at clearing Quinn's corner at the near post hastily cleared by Ifil behind him. Lee fouled Heath in the build-up to Gavin Williams' shot which missed the far post by some distance.

Lisbie volleyed over - though a linesman's flag would have ruled the effort out anyway -before all eyes were on referee Andy D'Urso after Sito's clumsy foul on Johnnie Jackson. D'Urso, based in the South of the county had been an odd choice of referee, but he did the U's no favours here as he awarded the U's a free-kick just outside the box after the Spaniard had felled the former Spurs man. Sito was cautioned for his challenge, and I thought that he was perhaps lucky to only see a yellow as he appeared to be the last man and might, on another occasion, have seen red. Duguid curled the resulting free-kick over the bar.

The U's had weathered the early Town storm though and were starting to get in to the game as Lisbie headed a Hammond free-kick behind for a goal kick. The U's leading goal scorer will perhaps feel he should have done better with another cross from the right-hand side, this time from Jackson, which he glanced wide. A better contact might well have forced Bywater into a save at least.

Gerken was not looking quite at his best from delivery in to the box today, but did well to get a hand to the ball to tip it over the head of Lee who was running in behind him unmarked and just a few yards out. The submarine did better from the resulting corner, but could only head straight at the U's goalkeeper after just finding a couple of yards of space behind the main throng of players. The Lee vs. Gerken show continued to go in the U's mans favour with the next effort which saw the United shot stopper dive full length to his left to catch the latest effort from the former Cardiff City striker.

On 29 minutes the U's took the lead thanks to a sublime touch from Scott Vernon. A ball over the top of the Town defence caught them square with Lisbie diving in between De Vos and Bruce. His first touch - jumping in the air to control the ball though - took him away from goal inside the box, but he turned and picked out his strike partner. The deadline day signing feigned to shot, and instead, chipped the ball over the leg of the defender, before racing forward to plant a crisp volley past Bywater.

Town responded. Haynes used his pace to good advantage but found his shot blocked for a throw on before Lee broke through the challenge of Heath and Coyne to poke the ball the wrong side of the post for Town fans. Simpson got round the back to force Gerken in to a good save before Haynes' 25 yard effort failed to force Gerken in to a save.

Then came the pivotal moment of the game. Quinn's volley goalwards was headed in by Haynes standing on the six yard box but as he turned away to celebrate, he spotted the Assistant's flag was raised for offside. My initial thought was that he looked in an offside position, but I understand that TV pictures may show something slightly different.

Still the U's went in to the break with a lead and a clean sheet - there hasn't been too many times this season that's happened but Coyne and Heath were ably supported by Phil Ifil and John white at the back.

Town again came at the U's as they looked to get back that goal and keep their play-off ambitions going. Lee was denied a penalty by D'Urso after a challenge in the box. The U's were dropping off too deep and failing to engage the opposition quickly enough which allowed Quinn a shot from distance that thankfully, did not worry Dean Gerken.

Jim Magilton made his first change of the afternoon as Quinn exited and winger Gary Roberts arrived just before the hour mark. Haynes then got past a challenge from Heath to get to the by-line where he pulled the ball back to The Human Submarine. Lee, though he received the ball with his back to goal, should really have tested Gerken with some sort of shot but he dallied long enough for the U's to clear the danger.

United were content to play on the break and with Lisbie's pace, always had the ability to hurt Town. Indeed, the U's should have extended their lead when Lisbie won the ball down the right and found Jackson in the box but the former Spurs man saw the ball spin off his left foot and go out for a goal-kick. Though very left-footed, Jackson will admit that he really should have just swept the ball home from the penalty spot with his right boot.
Macedonian midfielder Velice Sumulikoski made was for striker Jordan Rhodes with 28 minutes remaining as Magilton went with three at the back, and three up front.

Alex Bruce headed Gavin Williams' free kick on to the roof of Gerken's net before the U's found the second goal with seventeen minutes remaining.

It came a little out of the blue. A simple ball over the top found Vernon in some space but from the edge of the box his shot didn't really look to have the power to trouble Bywater. What it lacked in power though, it made up for in direction as the ball went in to the net off the far post for the former Blackpool man's third U's goal of the season.

Could the U's now hold on and record a famous victory in the last A12 derby ever to be staged at Layer Road. Gary Roberts curled a free kick over the bar while another penalty area scramble saw Gerken get a brave hand to the ball to clear the danger.

Tommy Miller came on for Williams with five minutes left as Town desperately sought a way to get back in to the game and that almost arrived as Jordan Rhodes brought he best out of Gerken with a shot from just outside the six yard box that the U's keeper did brilliantly to turn away for a corner.

Bywater was lucky to get away with a missed kick near the corner flag but when Duguid crossed the loose ball in to the box, Bruce headed behind for a corner to save his keepers' blushes. From the corner, Ifil's 25 yard sizzler was turned away at his near post by the former West Ham goalkeeper.

From a blocked free kick at the other end of the pitch, Lisbie had a great chance to wrap up the win. He deserved the chance for all his hard work during the afternoon as he rampaged down the left hand side, before cutting inside and slicing his shot well wide when he had other's in better positions. Another run at goal from Lisbie had the Ipswich defence at sixes and sevens but the club's leading scorer dragged his shot wide from the edge of the box.

Gerken was called in to action once more to save from Garvan's late free-kick at the second attempt, but after four minutes of injury time, United had finally kept a clean sheet at home. More importantly, they'd given their fans the win that they cherished the most. Let's hope it’s not too long before the two meet again in league action.

Shot of the Match: Ifil's late rasping 25 yarder appeared to be going in till Bywater pushed it away.
Save of the Match: Gerken's reaction save to deny Rhodes in the second half. Hit from close range, the U's keeper did well to dive to his left to keep the ball out.
Moment of the Match: The above save from Rhodes by Dean Gerken was one big moment but how would the game have turned out if Haynes' disallowed goal had stood?
Man of the Match: Big displays from the back four and Dean Gerken in goal while Lisbie, Jackson and Hammond all deserve credit for their efforts today. Elito also had his best game for the club so far, but by virtue of his two goals, I'm giving MOTM to Scott Vernon. He gave us a different dimension up front, brought others in to the game and has given Geraint Williams selection problems in the upcoming weeks.

Colchester: Gerken, Ifil, Coyne, Heath, White, Duguid, Hammond, Jackson, Elito, Lisbie, Vernon.
Subs Not Used: Izzet, Kevin McLeod, Guy, Balogh, Cousins.

Goals: Vernon 29, 73.

Ipswich: Bywater, Simpson, De Vos, Bruce, Sito, Williams (Miller 85), Garvan, Sumulikoski (Rhodes 62), Quinn (Roberts 58), Haynes, Lee.
Subs Not Used: Colgan, Wright.

Booked: Sito.

Att: 6,264

Ref: Andy D'Urso (Essex).

Photo: Action Images

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