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Lights Out at Leiston - Ipswich Town News

Town's friendly at Leiston came to a premature close after an hour due to floodlight failure. The Blues were 3-0 in front when the referee decided it was too dark to continue.

Danny Haynes put Town in front on 14 from a Billy Clarke pass, before Blues keeper Andy Plummer made a fine save from former Town academy player Lee McGlone.

Haynes was somewhat amazingly not awarded a penalty in the 20th minute having been rather obviously felled as he ran through on goal, much to the surprise and annoyance of the rest of the Town side.

Twelve minutes later, Billy Clarke was similarly sent to crashing to earth and this time the referee pointed to the spot. Clarke himself took the kick, sending the ball low to keeper Jamie Stannard's right and into the net.

Former Ipswich Wanderers custodian Stannard saved well from Clarke as the half drew to a close. Throughout the opening period there had been a number of abortive attempts to get the floodlights going. The two lights at one end were fine but those at the opposite remained stubbornly dark.

A failing cable was diagnosed as the problem and an announcement was made apologising for the curtailed second period. Town made one change at the break, Liam Trotter taking over from Danny Haynes, who had suffered a tight calf.

Matt Richards added to the Blues' lead on 47, slipping the ball past the advancing Stannard, before the referee brought the game to a close on the hour.

Town: Plummer, Sito, Richards, Legwinski (Upson 54), Wilnis, Synnott, Peters, O'Callaghan, Clarke (Murphy 54), Haynes (Trotter 46), Roberts (Rhodes 54). Unused: Ward, Smith. Att: 495.

Get the fastest and most comprehensive Ipswich Town news service at ipswichtown.footballlatest.co.uk.

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