David Johnson grabbed another vital goal for in-form Ipswich while defeat
probably signals the end of Stockport's play-off chances.
Johnson, who represented the Nationwide League against their Serie B
counterparts at Charlton in mid-week, struck for the 25th time this season in
the 55th minute.
Despite Stockport's cries that Alex Mathie had been offside, Sheffield referee
John Kirkby and his officials ruled that the player was not interfering and
Johnson ran on to beat Eric Nixon quite comfortably.
County, weakened by injuries, including three players sidelined with broken
legs, never looked likely to get back into contention.
They were 2-0 winners at Portman Road last November but the fortunes of both
clubs have altered since then.
Ipswich were good value for their victory and might easily have increased
their lead in the final half hour.
Nixon produced two good saves to deny Bobby Petta and substitute James
Scowcroft while Town's number one Richard Wright did not have a worthwhile goal
attempt to save.
Tony Mowbray and Jason Cundy were the rocks in defence on which Ipswich built
their latest win while Johnson's eye for goal continues to take the East Anglian
outfit closer to an automatic promotion place.
County's woe was complete with bookings for Brett Angell and defender Martin
McIntosh - the latter caution is set to cost McIntosh a two-game ban including
next month's derby against Manchester City.
Teams:
Stockport (0) 0 Ipswich (0) 1
Stockport: Nixon, Connelly, Searle (Nash 46),
Phillips (Travis 46), Flynn, McIntosh, Woodthorpe, Cook, Angell,
Grant, Byrne.
Subs Not Used: Mutch.
Booked: McIntosh, Angell.
Ipswich: Wright, Stockwell, Taricco, Dyer, Mowbray, Cundy,
Clapham, Holland, Johnson, Mathie (Scowcroft 64), Petta.
Subs Not Used: Uhlenbeek, Tanner.
Goals: Johnson 55.
Att: 8,939
Ref: J A Kirkby (Sheffield).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook