England striker Dean Ashton fired a hat-trick but Craig Bellamy limped off as West Ham beat Ipswich 5-3 at Portman Road.

The opening 10 minutes were a goal frenzy, as Ashton and Bellamy scored to give the visitors a 2-1 lead - Veliche Shumulikoski on target for Town.

Owen Garvan levelled for the home side in the 25th minute, but the Hammers went 3-2 up 12 minutes into the second half when Ashton fired home after a Kyel Reid shot was blocked.

The former Crewe and Norwich forward completed his hat-trick in the 73rd minute thanks to a calm finish from a Reid cross.

Reid then combined with Scott Parker to tee up David Noble, who blasted home West Ham's fifth from 25 yards - before Alan Lee pulled one back for Town.

Hammers boss Alan Curbishley will be worried through after Bellamy limped off with a hamstring injury while Anton Ferdinand suffered a blow to his right leg.