Football round-up: Diamonds shine as Jackson plots a Cup giantkilling

Simeon Jackson scored a goal in each half as Rushden & Diamonds of the Blue Square Conference Premier pulled off the major shock in an FA Cup first round of relatively few surprises by removing Macclesfield of League Two from the competition in a 3-1 defeat. Jackson's two goals, which took his season's total to 13, sandwiched John Challinor's strike.

Other notable results saw Marc Charles-Smith react first to a rebound and equalise for Staines Town of the Ryman Premier to earn a home replay from a 1-1 draw at League Two side Stockport County, and Barrow of the Conference North booked a long journey south by holding Bournemouth, League One strugglers, to a 1-1 draw in Cumbria.

In the Championship, Watford kept their eight-point lead despite being held to a 2-2 draw at home by Colchester United. The Hornets led through Adam Johnson but Colchester replied with Clive Platt's fifth goal of the season and a Kevin Lisbie strike a minute after the break. Dean Gerken saved Marlon King's penalty to keep Colchester in front, but King atoned with a late equaliser. The match put Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd in a nautical frame of mind. "The boat's still moving," the admiral said. "It was a bit choppy today, but we'll stay on board and see where it takes us."

Ipswich Town's 100 per cent home record was kept intact in expansive style at the expense of hitherto high-flying Bristol City, who were routed 6-0. Chief beneficiary was Jonathan Walters, who scored a hat-trick. "We passed the ball well and fluently," Jim Magilton, the Ipswich manager, said. "It was a good day at the office." City's Bradley Orr had been sent off two minutes into the second half, but they were already being outplayed. Ipswich move into the top six, a point behind Wolves, who beat Barnsley 1-0, Neill Collins heading in Michael Kightly's corner. It was a nervy win. "Everyone was frustrated," Wolves boss Mick McCarthy said, "but sod it, we have won 1-0."

A 1-0 win would suit Norwich City's new manager Glenn Roeder, who saw his side lose 3-0 at Plymouth, conceding two goals in the first four minutes after half-time, right after his pep talk. "I have got a clear picture of the job in hand," Roeder said, "and I believe I will turn it around."

Both Glenn Whelan and Akpo Sodje scored twice as Sheffield Wednesday thrashed Southampton 5-0 at Hillsborough to edge further away from the danger zone. "We've got strength and pace in defence," Saints' manager George Burley said, "so it was a shock to everybody." Sheffield United also won, 1-0 at Stoke.

Preston lost 3-0 at Hull City, their manager Paul Simpson not seeing "enough levels of pride", but Blackpool escaped the bottom three thanks to the Kaspars Gorkss header that beat Scunthorpe 1-0 to earn a first win in 11 games for the Tangerines.

In the meeting of the managerless sides at the Walkers Stadium, Burnley, in their first match since manager Steve Cotterill's departure, beat Leicester City, who still seek a replacement for Gary Megson, 1-0.