Paul Taylor scored two penalties as Town’s U21s drew 2-2 with Millwall at Playford Road. The Blues were denied what would have been only their second victory of the season when Lions striker Jermaine Easter, who also scored his side’s first goal, netted the game’s third spotkick in injury time
Taylor and Scott Loach were amongst a number of first-teamers who didn’t make this week’s amongst a number of first-teamers who didn’t make the Portugal trip — skipper Carlos Edwards and striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake also remained behind - for a variety of organisational reasons, such as not having up to date passports. The training camp was arranged only a few days before the squad left on Sunday.
The Town side also included a trialist, Stoke City left-back Sam Westley, who was celebrating his 20th birthday today. Former Birmingham youngster Westley, the son of former Town youth coach Terry, also played in last week’s 3-0 behind-closed-doors friendly defeat to Colchester, which was played at Kesgrave High School. Regular left-back David October missed out through injury.
In windy conditions, it was the visitors — whose line-up included Richard Chaplow and Justin Hoyte in addition to Easter - who threatened most in the early stages, Loach making an impressive save down to his right from Jack Powell’s early freekick. Jordan Adekunle struck Town’s first effort of the game 10 minutes later but hit the sidenetting.
There was little other penalty area action until the final five minutes of the half with the wind making things difficult for both teams.
On 40 Taylor crossed deep from the right but Mark Timlin was unable to get in a strike. At the other end, Fred Onyedinma shot into the sidenetting from a tight angle on the right.
The visitors ought to have been in front just before the break, having got in behind the Town defence on two occasions. First Loach did well to recover from slipping to block from John Marquis on the edge of the area, then the same player stabbed wide when both he and Easter were through with only the Blues keeper to beat.
Millwall, with the wind now behind them, dominated the early stages of the second half, Tom Bender heading wide from a corner.
Loach again did well to push Easter’s shot onto the post in the 56th minute with the former Wales international having escaped on the left of the area, then the Town keeper made another impressive stop on 61, this time from Marquis’s header from a corner on the right.
Despite the Lions having been on top, Town took the lead a minute later via the first of the game’s three penalties, half-time sub Amir Berkane having been sent flying by Bender’s rather agricultural challenge just inside thebox. Taylor beat keeper Denzell Gerrer from the spot with the Blues’ first shot on target of the game.
The lead lasted until the 71st minute when Easter added the final touch from a few yards out after sub Charlie Penny had diverted a corner on the right through a crowd of players towards goal.
Matt Clarke headed wide for the Blues soon afterwards with Town looking more threatening than they had earlier in the half.
With a minute of scheduled time remaining Taylor put the Blues back in front with his second penalty of the afternoon, the striker having won the spotkick himself when he tricked his way past Niall McManus on the right. The former Peterborough man hit the ball to Gerrar’s right and into the net.
Mark Kennedy’s men looked to have sealed their second victory of the season but three minutes into stoppage time schoolboy defender George Fowler tripped Easter inside the box. The former Crystal Palace striker beat Loach from the spot to claim a point.
It would have been harsh on the visitors if they hadn’t taken anything from the game having dominated for long spells and having created more than enough chances to win it. Aside from the penalties, the Blues had few opportunities against a more experienced Millwall side.
Town’s two senior players were probably the standout performers, Loach making a number of impressive saves and handling capably throughout in what were trying conditions for keepers, while Taylor was lively and persistent throughout and took his two penalties confidently.
Amongst those watching the game were on-loan striker Jack Marriott, former Blue Geraint Williams, now the coach of the Wales U21s, U19s and U17s, Paul Goddard, who works for agents Stellar Management, Colchester United staff Richard Hall and Brian Owen, and ex-Blues keeper Shane Supple, who regularly brings young Irish keepers over to the Town academy.
U21s: Loach, Hammond, Westley (Leddy 79), Clarke, Fowler, Sowunmi, Doherty (Bekane 46), Lawrence, Adekunle (Galvin 70), Taylor, Timlin. Unused: McDermid, Ford.