Marcus Stewart, Ipswich's £2.5million signing from Huddersfield, scored the 73rd minute winner to break the hearts of his former team-mates in a hard-fought promotion battle.

Stewart scored with a great left foot finish after a decoy run by David Johnson had made the opening following a cross from Jamie Clapham on the left.

James Scowcroft had opened the scoring for Ipswich in the 28th minute with his 13th goal of the season. He fired in the rebound from eight yards after a powerful header from Matt Holland had rebounded off the inside of the post.

The move had developed down the left with a good ball out of defence from Wayne Brown followed by a pinpoint cross from Clapham.

Clapham almost increased the Ipswich lead in the 35th minute with an angled drive that goalkeeper Nico Vaesen did well to turn round the post.

Huddersfield almost took the lead in the 12th minute when the dangerous Clyde Wijnhard tried a drive from a narrow angle on the right that beat Richard Wright for pace but clipped the bar. In the 47th minute Steve Jenkins fouled Scowcroft in the penalty area. The spot-kick was taken by Johnson whose shot was brilliantly saved by Vaesen diving to his left and tipping the ball for a corner.

A minute later Vaesen saved well from Tony Mowbray and in the 51st minute coped with a header from Wayne Brown.

Ipswich paid the penalty for their miss from the spot when Huddersfield drew level in the 56th minute. Dean Gorre had an easy finish after Wijnhard had flicked on a probing through ball from Scott Sellars.

In the 70th minute Stewart missed a great chance to restore Ipswich's lead after being set up by Johnson but he made amends three minutes later.

During four minutes added on at the end Wright dived to save at Wijnhard's feet and substitute Gary Croft was carried off on a stretcher after a heavy challenge from Jon Dyson.

Teams:

Ipswich: R. Wright, Wilnis, McGreal, Mowbray, Brown, Clapham (Croft 85), Holland, Magilton, Scowcroft, Johnson (Naylor 88), Stewart, Croft (Stockwell 90).

Subs Not Used: Salmon, J. Wright.

Goals: Scowcroft 28, Stewart 73.

Huddersfield: Vaesen, Jenkins, Armstrong, Dyson, Edwards, Holland, Gorre (Thornley 83), Irons (Schofield 83), Sellars, Smith, Wijnhard.

Subs Not Used: Margetson, Horne, Donis.

Booked: Armstrong.

Goals: Gorre 56.

Att: 21,233

Ref: G Poll (Tring).