DARRYL Knights bagged a brace to keep the Blues top of the reserve league after beating a strong Southend side 3-1 in the Pontins Holiday League East Division last night.

By Derek Davis

DARRYL Knights bagged a brace to keep the Blues top of the reserve league after beating a strong Southend side 3-1 in the Pontins Holiday League East Division last night.

The Shrimpers went ahead on the quarter-hour when Gary Hooper was able to get above the Town defence and head in a cross from tricky winger Dave Cowley.

Jaime Peters enjoyed a bright first half with some neat tricks and turns but he also found an end product. The Canadian scored his second goal in four days to equalise for Town.

Peters had netted the winner for his country's Under-20s on Friday in a friendly against the Czech Republic in Prague.

Knights put the Blues 2-1 up five minutes after the break when he stroked a low curling shot home from 22-yards.

Tenacious play by Dean Bowditch set up Town's third and Knight's second when he pulled back from the dead ball line to find the young striker wide open. The unmarked Knights poked the ball through the stranded keeper with 18 minutes left to play.

The Blues striker had earlier been denied by keeper Steve Collis who pushed away a left-footed effort from 18-yards.

On the right flank Martin Brittain caused some problems and hit a post with a deflected left-foot shot while Cowley also struck the woodwork with a 20-yard shot for Southend.

Dean Bowditch created three chances from outside the box but hit them all off target.

The Ipswich team was skippered by Ian Miller, the recent signing from non-league Bury Town, and the central defender impressed, despite being hampered by a cut that reopened above his nose.

Southend included a number of first-teamers, including one-time England international Michael Ricketts, ex-Nigeria and Colchester defender Efe Sodje and former Port Vale and Hull City striker Billy Paynter.

Last night's line-ups

Ipswich Town Res: Plummer, Synnott, Barron, Moore, Miller, Krause (Smith, 90), Brittain (Reason, 90), Bowditch, Knights, Rhodes (Upson, 65) and Peters. Subs not used: Reason, Short and Fenn.

Southend United Res: Collis, Kearns, Herd, Moussa, Hopkins, Sodje (Noel, 90), Smith, Hooper, Ricketts (Ademeno, 70), Paynter and Cowley. Subs not used: Welch, Absolon and Lindie.

Referee: Mr K Yeo. Attendance: 368.