LIAM Trotter tuned out to be the unlikeliest of goal heroes as Ipswich Town equalled their best run of home wins for 25years.The 21-year-old Bury boy Trotter has not played for Town since making his debut at Plymouth at the end of the season before last came off the bench to head in a crucial second to put Town in front after Clive Platt had given the U's a first half lead.

By Derek Davis

LIAM Trotter turned out to be the unlikeliest of goal heroes as Ipswich Town equalled their best run of home wins for 25 years.

The 19-year-old Ipswich boy Trotter, who has not played for Town since making his debut at Plymouth at the end of the season before last, came off the bench to head in a crucial second to put Town in front after Clive Platt had given the U's a first half lead.

Jon Walters had equalised after the match was turned by a controversial penalty saved by Neil Alexander.

Kevin Lisbie had gone over the keeper after nicking the ball past him after latching on to a sublime through ball by Johnnie Jackson and the referee's assistant flagged for the spot kick.

But the usually deadly Mark Yeates was denied by Alexander and from being a goal down and looking in trouble, the Blues sparked into life.

Trotter headed in an Owen Garvan corner 12 minutes after the spot kick incident and when fellow substitute Danny Haynes nodded in a long ball played up by Fabian Wilnis is was all over.

The win maintains Town's perfect home record for the season and takes the run to nine wins, which was last achieved by the likes of Alan Brazil, Mick Mills and John Wark back in 1982.

It is also the first time this season that Town have gone on to win after going a goal behind.

For 70 minutes it never looked as if they were going to achieve the win as the U's looked to be comfortable but that dramatic penalty incident boosted town and deflated Colchester.

The U's finished higher than both Ipswich and Norwich last season, a point highlighted by a banner held up by United fans proclaiming them the 'Pride Of Anglia'.

Thousands of red balloons were released to mark the arrival of their side in their away strip showing perhaps that they at least consider this derby a big night, while many Town fans are rather more patronising about the games with Norwich seen as the real local rivals.

There was a fair bit of passion from both sets of players but it seemed the U's showed that bit more desire.

The U's got stuck into Town with keen defending, quick closing down and plenty of putting their bodies on the line and in the way of everything.

Ipswich started with their customary panache and the tried and trusted tactic of getting the ball wide for Walters to cut in.

As early as the first minute Lee slipped a ball in behind George Elokobi but Walters was unable to get a clean connection.

A Lee flick on also found Walters but his goal-bound shot was swiftly blocked by on loan Arsenal defender Matthew Connolly.

With a four man attack Town did look threatening with Counago almost embarrassing Davison who spilled his shot but as ever a U's defender was quickest to react.

Skipper Pat Baldwin over his own bar after Counago refused to give up and nicked the ball away from Davison and Harding drilled in a low cross.

Once Colchester had absorbed the first 20 minutes of pressure they ventured forward and Town skipper Jason De Vos had to be equally alert to snuff out a threat from Yeates as he tried to get on the end of a Jackson ball.

Colchester had a good claim for a penalty when Connolly headed down a Yeates corner and it appeared to come off de Vos' arm.

Lisbie was then allowed to turn and shoot and was not far wide but the warnings were not heeded by Ipswich and they went behind just after the half hour.

Platt scored with a stunning volley after Jackson chested down an Elokobi ball into the striker's path and he hit let fly from 25-yards.

Ipswich got away with conceding a second seven minutes before the break when Platt left De Vos in his wake then beat the on rushing Alexander but with the goal gaping mis-hit and went wide.

Harding was booked for a foul on Yeates who was set to go clean through after a flick on from Lisbie and

Granville had a header saved on line by Alexander

While Town had a few shots goalwards in the early part of the second period Colchester looked more than capable of hanging on but they were destroyed in the last 20 minutes.

Walters swooped to finish as Town equalised and then it was the turn of the supersubs.

DEREK'S BIG MATCH RATINGS

Town: N Alexander 8, D Wright 7, F Wilnis 7, J De Vos 6, D Harding 7, O Garvan 6, S Legwinski 6, P Counago 7, J Walters 6, A Lee 5, B Clarke 6. Subs: D Haynes 8, L TROTTER (MOM) 8

U's: A Davison 7, B Balogh 6, 12 P Baldwin 7, M Connolly 8, G Elokobi 7, M Yeates 5, K Izzett 7, J Jackson 8, D Granville 6, K Lisbie 6, C Platt 7. Subs T Sheringham 6 .

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hants) 7