Matchday Reports - Sat 22 Mar 2014

Brighton & Hove Albion 0-2 Ipswich

SKYBET CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: AMEX Stadium   Date: Sat 22nd Mar   Att: 29,093   Ref: Darren Drysdale

Second-half strikes from defender Tommy Smith and striker Daryl Murphy secured Ipswich a 2-0 win over promotion rivals Brighton and Hove Albion.

Town scored from a poor mistake by Seagulls keeper Kuszczak which let Smith tap in Murphy's header.

The Tractor Boys doubled their lead when on-loan Palace player Jonny Williams set up Murphy to head home from close range.

The results draws Ipswich closer to the play-offs, in their bid for promotion from the Championship.

Colchester 2-2 Bristol City

Freddie Sears scores against Bristol City
















SKYBET LEAGUE ONE
Venue: Weston Homes Community Stadium   Date: Sat 22nd Mar   Att: 3,805   Ref: Steven Rushdon

Two goals in six minutes from Colchester saw them come from behind to draw 2-2 at home to Bristol City.

Bristol City took a 1-0 lead into the interval, after Paterson's 8th minute goal setup by former Ipswich player Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.

The Robins quickly extended their lead after the interval, when Wagstaff's 49th minute strike put the visitors 2-0 up.

But goals from Gavin Massey and Freddie Sears secured a point for the hosts in an attempt to draw away from the League One relegation zone.

Southend 0-0 Bristol Rovers

















SKYBET LEAGUE TWO
Venue: Memorial Stadium   Date: Fri 21st Mar   Att: 6,028   Ref: G Salisbury
Southend closed in on the play-offs after they played out a goalless draw away at Bristol Rovers.

An instantly forgettable game saw Rovers goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall make the best save, diving to palm away a Michael Timlin shot after 53 minutes.

Southend substitute Jamar Loza mistimed his header from a good chance late on, while for the the home side John-Joe O'Toole headed straight at goalkeeper Daniel Bentley with 83 minutes on the clock.

A desperately poor first half was almost bereft of excitement as both teams struggled to retain possession.

Bentley had to make only one save and that was from team-mate Ryan Leonard after an O'Toole shot deflected off him in the 35th minute.

Braintree 1-0 Aldershot Town

SKRILL PREMIER
Venue: Amlin Stadium   Date: Sat 22nd Mar      Att: 1,090   Ref: Justin Amey

Dan Holman's sixth goal in eight games helped secure a comfortable win for Braintree Town, who beat Aldershot Town 1-0.

Holman scored after 180 seconds to secure the win for the Iron.

The Iron could have scored a second, though Sparkes' free-kick, but he could only guide it towards the crossbar.

Bath City 4-1 Chelmsford

SKRILL PREMIER
Venue: Mayday Trust Park   Date: Sat 22nd Mar      Att: 1,374    Ref: A Coggins


Adelsbury gave Bath the lead after the half-hour mark, from Watkins' cross, before Stern doubled Bath's lead with his rebound from his original free-kick.

Callander give faith to the travelling supporters with his 68th minute strike, before Mellor was shown a red card for confronting the Chelmsford striker.

But late goals from Watkins and Pratt confirmed the win for Romans.

AFC Sudbury 1-3 Romford













RYMAN DIVISION ONE NORTH
Venue: The MEL Group Stadium   Date: Sat 22nd Mar   Att: 287   Ref: Chris Francis

Two first-half strikes and a late second-half effort saw AFC Sudbury's play-off hopes continue to drift away.

A 16th minute strike from Nick Reynolds send the visitors in front before a 42nd minute strike from Paul Clayton double Romford's lead.

Swatman hit the crossbar late on in the first half with an effort from Henshaw cleared off the line.

But -Swatman gave the Yellows hope in the second-half, with his 57th minute strike from Clarke's original effort which was spilled by goalkeeper Omand.

But Tom Richardson's strike in the 91st minute secure the win for the Essex side.