Town's senior academy sides completed their season on Saturday morning when an U17 team drew 1-1 with Colchester United in a friendly match at Playford Road, Republic of Ireland U17 international striker Cemal Ramadan scoring the Blues' goal.

Irish youngster Shane McLoughlin hit the post within the opening few minutes and also saw a 'goal' disallowed later in the half when Nick Ingram was flagged offside.

George Fowler's close-range effort from a corner forced visiting keeper Ron Carroll into a fine save, before Fowler produced a magnificent goal-line clearance after George Brown had rounded Town stopper Sam McDermid.

The U's opened the scoring three minutes after the break when Callum Harrison placed a freekick past the despairing dive of sub keeper Nick Hayes.

Town equalised shortly before the hour mark when Ramadan eventually put the ball in the net having only just come off the bench.

He latched onto a ball over the top and saw his first effort hit a post, the second cleared off the line, before he dinked the ball over the defenders who were on the line.

McLoughlin should have put the Blues ahead on 64 when he found himself one-on-one with Colchester's sub keeper Callum Harrison, but he stood up and blocked a weak effort.

Ramadan struck the crossbar with a curling freekick in the final minute but neither side was able to find a winner.

Skipper Matt Clarke and George Fowler both had solid games at centre-half, while Ramadan looked lively during his second-half showing.

Meanwhile, academy second-year scholar Amir Berkane has thanked everyone at Playford Road having been amongst those released this summer.

"Last day at Ipswich today would like to thank the coaches, players and most of all the fans for the great eight years I have had there," he tweeted.

U17s: McDermid (Hayes 46), Emmanuel, Kenlock (Daly 46), Smith (Dozzell 54), Fowler, M Clarke, Jones (Benyu 46 (Smith 74)), Trialist, Ingram (Ford 54), McLoughlin (Walton Owen 70), Walton Owen (Ramadan 56).

Photo: Action Images

Bown added 14:51 - May 10 phil who was the trialist who played?
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