BBC SPORT | Football | Championship | Colchester 2-0 Ipswich

Scott Vernon struck a goal in each half for lowly Colchester to deal a blow to Ipswich's play-off hopes.

The forward ended a run of 10 games without victory, firing into the bottom corner from 12 yards on 29 minutes.

Ipswich were purposeful and Danny Haynes spurned an decent opportunity to equalise just before the break.

But Colchester wrapped up the points 17 minutes from time with another assured finish from Vernon finishing right into the corner from the edge of the area.

• Colchester manager Geraint Williams:
"It was a pleasing performance but it was the result that was important today.

"It's still going to be very difficult for us but it's important we keep the nucleus of the squad together.

"We'll be looking to keep hold of the players we want to keep and then build for the future."

• Ipswich manager Jim Magilton:
"We need to win all five of our games now - we have two massive home games coming up and we have to win them both.

"Today was a poor result from our point of view. I don't think we took Colchester lightly.

"We had good chances but didn't take them and that came back to haunt us."

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).