KARL Duguid completed a scoring double against Ipswich this season but his early strike was not enough to earn the U's any reward from their trip to Portman Road.

By Carl Marston

KARL Duguid completed a scoring double against Ipswich this season but his early strike was not enough to earn the U's any reward from their trip to Portman Road.

Colchester United's inspirational skipper had netted the only goal of the game when Geraint Williams' men beat Town 1-0 at Layer Road last September, and his 15th minute opener gave the U's genuine hope of completing a league double on Saturday.

However, Duguid had no complaints with the final 3-2 defeat. “It's very disappointing but I think Ipswich just about deserved it,” admitted Duguid.

“We were looking good at 1-0 up, and it was a blow to concede a soft penalty. However, we were given a soft penalty ourselves the previous weekend (1-1 draw against Leicester), so you have to take it on the chin.

“There's no point in moaning about it. Sometimes decisions go for you and sometimes they don't.

“In the end, it was not to be. We had a couple of warnings from set pieces in the first-half and we spoke about that at half-time, about how we needed to be sharper at defending. But their second goal came from a set piece and that left us chasing the game.

“Ipswich's third goal was against the run of play. We had gone to three at the back, with me playing like a wing-back. It became very bitty, and although we got a penalty at the end there wasn't time to make it count,” added Duguid.

Controversy surrounded Duguid's fourth goal of the season - Billy Clarke's shot appeared to cross the line for a goal at the other end before Garry Richards hooked it away. But neither the referee nor the assistant referee agreed, and the U's went straight back up the field to score.

Duguid explained: “It looked like it was a goal, but I'm glad that it wasn't given, not least because it would have been a goal for Billy Clarke! (former Colchester United loanee).

“It was a mad minute. They looked like scoring a goal that wasn't, and we went up the other end and scored a goal that was!

“It was a good time for us to pounce. It was a good ball in from Hogan (Ephraim). He deserved his chance of a start.

“I thought that it was a very open game and a good lively local derby. The atmosphere was excellent and our fans were superb again. We were 3-1 down and I could still hear them signing.

“Ipswich fans tried to make us feel that we were nothing to them, by singing songs about Norwich, but we gave them a good game.

“This is a real proper local derby now. Playing at Portman Road in the Championship was a momentous moment for us,” added Duguid.