League leaders Chesterfield have Southend United to thank for bringing their season-long unbeaten away run to an end.

Saturday's Division Three tie at Roots Hall was a five-goal thriller not short of incident, which ended with the Blues triumphing 3-2.

Ben Abbey won the tie with a third goal in the 88th minute after Chesterfield's Marcus Ebdon was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

In Division Two sub Thomas Pinault came off the bench to seal a 3-0 victory for Colchester United at Luton.

His 25-yard effort in the 78th minute added to Barry Conlon and David Gregory's earlier strikes for the U's.

Ipswich Town won 3-1 against Southampton at Portman Road despite having gone behind to an early strike from in-form scoring machine James Beattie.

Alun Armstrong, Ipswich's new signing, achieved instant hero status as he scored twice after coming on at the start of the second half.

For full match reports on these games see tonight's Evening Gazette and Evening Echo .

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