Brett Pitman scored the only goal as Ipswich Town earned the local spoils over plucky Colchester United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The striker took advantage of a fantastic ball over the top by Paul Digby to round Town fan Sam Walker in the Colchester goal six minutes before the interval.

The second half was a rather drab affair although both Andre Dozzell in the first half, and his 58th minute replacement Teddy Bishop, showed touches of real class.

The friendly win ensured Ipswich lifted the Alderton Trusler Cup, a trophy that has been reinstated between the two sides for the first time since the 1990s.

Ipswich arrived with a 27-man squad which gave little away regarding Mick McCarthy’s thinking ahead of the season opener against Barnsley in little over two weeks.

Dozzell started on the right hand side of midfield but arguably the bigger news was on the bench with new signing Adam Webster joining the returning Daryl Murphy — but the lack of David McGoldrick remained a concern for the impressive travelling following numbering more than 1,200.

A bright opening for Ipswich saw Pitman spurn the first half-chance, firing over after neat interplay between Freddie Sears and Cameron Stewart.

Brennan Dickenson, one of Colchester’s five new signings who started the match, then fired high and wide for John McGreal’s men.

The home side went closer in the 16th minute when Drey Wright turned inside Myles Kenlock to tee up Denny Johnstone, whose first-time shot was comfortably held by Dean Gerken.

Digby, subject to some choice first-half words from his manager, headed Kevin Bru’s freekick wide just after the half-hour mark before the sliding Kurtis Guthrie just failed to convert another dangerous cross from Dickenson.

The breakthrough came for Ipswich seven minutes before the interval when Digby’s precise ball over the top was neatly headed beyond Walker by Pitman, who calmly found the unguarded net. It was an error from Ipswich fan Walker, but both Digby and Pitman can take heart from the opener.

Minutes later, it was almost two when a lovely move, again instigated by a raking Digby pass out of defence, saw Pitman and Stewart combine but Dozzell was unable to turn a dangerous deep cross goalwards.

Pitman then tested the diving Walker from distance as the game burst into some form of life.

The second half started in rather sluggish fashion before Stewart fizzed a freekick just over on the hour mark earned by neat trickery from Bishop, who replaced Dozzell in the 58th minute.

A few dangerous set pieces and crosses aside, the game was typical pre-season fare with the temperatures finally starting to drop, but so was the action.

Tommy Smith saw a header blocked before the plethora of expected subs finally materialised in the 68th minute when McCarthy made eight changes, Webster making his Town bow. Only Dean Gerken was kept on from the side that started.

Bishop was denied what looked like a decent shout for a penalty in the 76th minute after he was played in by a razor-sharp pass by Murphy.

Clearly Town’s biggest threat in the second half, Bishop then spurned a good opportunity after breaking clear down the right but opting to try and cut in rather than playing the ball across.

The second 45 minutes was drifting but Colchester almost claimed an unlikely draw — and a share of the Alderton Trusler Cup — when the lively Dion Sembie-Ferris teed up Chris Porter whose shot was deflected just wide with Gerken beaten.

In terms of performances, Digby had to endure something of a verbal battering from McCarthy but, at times, his long, precise balls out of defence were a feature, as was Dozzell’s assurance on the ball.

The second half was a poor affair, punctuated by the expected wave of subs — even if they were a little later than expected.

Bishop was far and away the standout figure of the second period while Murphy also looked sharp, perhaps predictably after locking horns with France just a few weeks previously.

New boy Webster made some nice touches but more serious tests are still to come.

Town: Gerken; Chambers (Emmanuel 69), Digby (Webster 69), Smith (Berra 69), Kenlock (Knudsen 46); Dozzell (Bishop 58), Douglas (Hyam 69), Bru (Skuse 69), Stewart (McDonnell 69); Pitman (Murphy 69), Sears (McLoughlin 69). Unused: Blanchfield, Robinson, Malarczyk, Patterson, Morris, Bialkowski.

Photos: Richard Calver

Photo: Action Images

Kentish_Tractor added 21:47 - Jul 20 Defenders that can control a ball and pick out a pass? It'll never catch on.
9

bressinghamblue added 21:53 - Jul 20 Gerken......really??????
11

Bluetone added 21:53 - Jul 20 The Gherkin back in goal I don't believe how bl**dy stubborn this uselesss dinosaur is Note I apologis to any dinosauers offended by the comparison.
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ArnieM added 21:54 - Jul 20 Smith's place will be under threat from Webster and Digby I fear. Both are "footballing" CB'S
5

H1960 added 21:55 - Jul 20 Underwhelmed!!
5

StochesStotasBlewe added 21:56 - Jul 20 Open top bus to parade the Alderton Trusler Cup then.
13

ChrisFelix added 22:00 - Jul 20 I'm also puzzled by playing Gerken for the full 90 mins. Even a 5 year old can tell he is not our best keeper. Average league 2 at best
14

Langdon_Blue added 22:01 - Jul 20 Fantastic ball over the top by Digby...it most certainly was. Some will call that hoof ball and would have rather an attractive pass sideways though, presumably.
4

blueboy1981 added 22:02 - Jul 20 Gerken No 1 choice next season - not a favourite by any chance ??? This Manager is, and will always be STUBBORN to the extreme - and unfair to certain players, irrespective of their ability. SHAMEFUL.
14

jas0999 added 22:03 - Jul 20 A wins a win, but in true last season fashion, we get a goal and then sit back and bore everyone! Not inspiring or the quality of football most Town fans demand/expect, but nonetheless probably our only hope with a squad which simply hasn't been invested in or improved significantly in pre season. The midfield is still far too one dimensional, with only Bishop having the quality and creativity required. Relegated Colchester, with no confidence, beaten one nil. It's okay. Not stand out. Regarding the keeper, I see no sense Gerken playing the full ninety minutes. He surely won't get a kick this season - other than the cups - as frankly he is a division one keeper at best.

10

12th_Man added 22:04 - Jul 20 Sounded like a awful game. We need some new faces in why was bart dropped. Off to Cambridge Saturday but don't know why. Feel so underwhelmed and fearing the season ahead
2

blueboy1981 added 22:06 - Jul 20 ...... Bialkowski is a very good keeper - I believe he has the potential to play at a higher level than the Championship. Bart - move on - you'll stall at this Club, with this Dinosaur and his Favourites.
2

BlueGoonie added 22:10 - Jul 20 FFS you lot get a grip, I'm sick of reading negative comments on here from some that are just looking for an excuse to moan SUPPORT YOUR TEAM!!
9

Surco72 added 22:10 - Jul 20 Our 2 most creative players shoe horned into the team on the right , skuse and hyam together, gerks in goal and chambo at right back with no quality wingers moved on a lot over summer
8

Jimmy86 added 22:11 - Jul 20 Think Mick did similar last season regarding the keepers. He gave them both 90 minute run outs in the Colchester and Cambridge games. The worrying thing, is that despite the fact Bart is the better keeper, Gerken was going to start the season as first choice, until he picked up a niggle. I get the impression for some reason only he will know Mick rates Gerken, over Bart. Despite the fact Bart is stronger in every area

10

blueboy1981 added 22:17 - Jul 20 Blue Goonie .......... no brainer - DON'T READ THEM then.
7

christiand added 22:24 - Jul 20 Let's give MM the benefit of the doubt, Gerken does have a Colchester United history so that might be the reason he played him tonight. Nevertheless, if he starts the season I'll despair. Bart was absolutely tremendous during our run-in last season.
11

blueboy1981 added 22:28 - Jul 20 christiand ............ fair comment.
1

PhilTWTD added 22:44 - Jul 20 Mick said at Barnet that the players who didn't start at Colchester would start at Cambridge on Saturday. Bart will start there, he always alternates between his keepers in the final few pre-season games.
13

Nazemariner added 23:19 - Jul 20 Sounds like a reasonably positive evening. 1. Bishop and Dozzell can be like two new signings for us this season. 2. Pitman knows where the net is. 3. Murphy played. 4. CB pairing is looking interesting with the signings of Webster and Digby Bart will start the season in goal for us. Mick is well aware that he was outstanding last season, I am sure of that. Bit concerned about McGoldrick though.

11

HarryS_H added 23:28 - Jul 20 Maybe he's giving gerken a chance to prove himself... these are friendlies so maybe he's said to dean put some pressure on Bart, competition for places brings out the best in people as shown by both keepers last season, neither of which looked out of their depth at any point!
3

essex57 added 23:56 - Jul 20 Blue boy do us a favour and don't post them........!!!!!!!??????.
1

Pilgrimblue added 00:01 - Jul 21 It was a very poor game but thought that Dozzell Kenlock and Digby looked like they'll have something to offer. Douglas was shocking but no doubt he'll be ahead of Bru when MM picks his team for Barnsley! So pleased to see Bishop. He looked good just hope he can leave his injuries behind and have the season we've longed for. We desperately need a right back with Chambers no better than last season and Emanuel not quite there. Also not sure about Smith. He defends ok but that's all. Berra and Digby would be my first choice. Stewart looked light weight so I'd hope for loanee. Not sure we'll ever see Mcg in blue.

1

essex57 added 00:02 - Jul 21 Just got back from game a typical pre season friendly looks like kenlock and Dozzel are going to play a big part in our season Bishop looked sharp considering how much game time he's had. We looked much more solid than the corresponding match last season look forward to the new season proper.
5

muccletonjoe added 06:36 - Jul 21 Play bart in every friendly and if he gets injured gerks has had no game time at all. Makes sense surely?.lets wait and see who is in goal against barnsley before we start making assumptions
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