Kieran McKenna’s visitors moved up to third by getting the better of Ed Still’s play-off hopefuls, who saw Tom Ince’s late penalty saved by Town goalkeeper Christian Walton.

Ipswich dominated the opening half hour without really testing home goalkeeper Egil Selvik.

The Norwegian made routine saves to deny Azor Matusiwa and Walle Egeli before Ivan Azon fired over the crossbar and it was a while before Watford, set up with five at the back, at last offered a threat themselves.

Jeremy Petris won the ball in his own half to begin a dash for goal that saw him fire over from 25 yards with defenders in hot pursuit.

Giorgi Chakvetadze led the next Hornets charge to set up a move that ended with striker Luca Kjerrumgaard heading over from Stephen Mfuni’s cross.

Ipswich’s reply saw them take lead in the 37th-minute through Walle Egeli.

Watford were unhappy with referee Ben Toner’s decision to award Town a free-kick right on the edge of the area for Mattie Pollock’s challenge on Azon.

Marcelino Nunez could only ping the free-kick against the wall but the rebound fell to Walle Egali in space on the right of the box for a volley that bounced off the turf and beyond Selvik.

Still swapped Chakvetadze for new signing Edoardo Bove, the Italian playing with a defibrillator because of a heart condition, as one of two changes at the start of the second half.

A chance came Watford’s way in the 58th minute but James Abankwah fired tamely at Walton and was offside anyway.

That perked Ipswich up but Nunez could not hit the target from distance on the charge and Watford soon resumed applying pressure at the other end.

Captain Imran Louza and Abankwah saw shots blocked by defenders in quick succession before Ipswich sent on Wes Burns and Jens Cajuste.

Azon was presented with a clear chance to double the lead with 20 minutes to go when Mfuni lost possession to Nunez on the edge of his area but again the Como loanee’s shot was too high.

Bove almost made him pay at the other end but fired inches wide before Hirst netted in the 77th minute.

The substitute diverted the ball home from close range after Jack Clarke’s initial shot had been deflected, with Jacob Greaves retrieving to cross from the left.

Watford were handed the chance of a late lifeline when Darnell Furlong pulled Ince back in the box but Walton dived to his left to save the substitute’s spot-kick.