Ipswich Town 3 Colchester United 1COLCHESTER United goalscorer Clive Platt could not believe that his side let all three points slip through their fingers at Portman Road last night.

By Carl Marston

Ipswich Town 3 Colchester United 1

By Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United goalscorer Clive Platt could not believe that his side let all three points slip through their fingers at Portman Road last night.

Platt's terrific long-range shot had handed the U's a deserved first-half lead, but when Mark Yeates saw his 70th minute free-kick saved by keeper Neil Alexander, it was Town who came storming back for the final 20 minutes.

Goals from Jonathan Walters, Liam Trotter and Danny Haynes wrapped up a club record ninth successive home win for Jim Magilton's men.

A crestfallen Platt rued: “We were the better team throughout and I can't believe that we have not won this match!

“The missed penalty gave them a lift, but I just don't know how we've come away with a 3-1 defeat. All we had to do was remain solid for another 10 minutes after the missed penalty, and we would have won the game.

“But we didn't manage to do that. We conceded an equaliser shortly afterwards and then conceded another goal from a set piece. It's so frustrating because we had played so well for so long. I just couldn't believe that this was happening.

“It's not really sunk in. The gaffer has told us that we were comfortable for more than an hour. Ipswich had not really pressurised us or tested our keeper, while we had chance after chance,” added Platt.

U's boss Geraint Williams said: “The missed penalty was a double turning point, because we missed it and Ipswich then scored. We lost concentration in those last 20 minutes. We went to sleep.

“I was delighted with my players for 68 minutes. They were fantastic, but unfortunately the game lasts for 90 minutes! It's unusual for us not to take our chances. They've been taking them for most of the season.”