x

Town XI Win at Chelmsford - Ipswich Town News

A young Town XI beat Vanarama Conference South side Chelmsford City 4-2 in a pre-season friendly at Melbourne Park on Friday evening, with a brace from Darren McQueen (pictured) and strikes from Teddy Bishop and Byron Lawrence securing the win.

Mark Kennedy's side took an eighth-minute lead when McQueen lashed home a volley from 25 yards after the ball fell kindly for him.

The hosts twice came close to equalising with Mark Hughes dragging a shot just wide before Luke Callander got the better of George Fowler and lifted his effort just over the bar.

Clarets stopper Niklas Freund did well to keep out Lawrence's fierce drive but he was powerless to prevent McQueen doubling Town's advantage on 24. The former Spurs youngster was played in on goal by strike partner Monty Patterson and coolly finished past Freund.

The Essex side pulled a goal back two minutes later - Marvin Ekpiteta's ball over the top allowed Callander to shrug off Fowler and slot the ball between Michael Crowe's legs.

Town started the second half well and restored their two-goal advantage five minutes after the restart. Sub Shane McLoughlin cut the ball back from the right which allowed Patterson to tee up Teddy Bishop, who stroked the ball into the net from 12 yards.

Omar Sowunmi's chipped through ball presented Cemal Ramadan with a great chance to score, but sub keeper Max Hunter came out to block his goalbound effort.

Ramadan was involved in Town's fourth on 70 minutes - volleying Ben Wyatt's deep cross back across goal for Lawrence to head home from close range.

The home side scored the final goal of the game give minutes later when Christian Smith curled a fine left-footed free-kick around the Town wall and past Crowe.

Town put in a solid performance against a physical Chelmsford side, which included recently released Blues midfielder Amir Berkane and Joe Ward, who spent time on trial at Playford Road last summer. Bishop caught the eye in midfield, while McQueen took his two goals extremely well.

Meanwhile, the Blues' U18s are in friendly action against Watford at Playford Road on Saturday morning (KO 11am).

Town XI: Crowe, Robinson (Emmanuel 61), Wyatt, Willbye (Benyu 65), Fowler, Sowunmi, Galvin (McLoughlin 46), Bishop, McQueen, Patterson (Ramadan 61), Lawrence. Unused: McDermid.

What to read next:

Davis: We're Going to Have to Do Everything We Can to Keep Vardy Quiet
Leif Davis says he is expecting another intense meeting with Leicester City this weekend, the Blues having drawn each of the last three meetings with the Foxes.
Davis: I Felt Like I Let My Teammates Down
Town defender Leif Davis has admitted he feels he let his teammates down following his sending off against Arsenal last month.
Rangers Linked With Burgess
Scottish giants Rangers are reportedly interested in out-of-contract Blues central defender Cameron Burgess.
Sheeran Call Me Ted Poster Unveiled
Call Me Ted’s final poster of the season by Blues sponsor and minority shareholder Ed Sheeran has been unveiled.
McKenna: Finishing Above Leicester the Motivation
Town boss Kieran McKenna says the motivation when the Blues travel to face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Sunday is finishing above the Foxes in the Premier League table.
Humphreys: I'm Gutted Now, But It's Been a Really Good Season
Blues midfielder Cameron Humphreys is gutted that his loan side Wycombe Wanderers were beaten 1-0 by Charlton Athletic in the League One play-off semi-final last night but says he will look back on the spell positively once the dust settled.
McKenna: Delap Young Player Nomination Well Deserved
Town manager Kieran McKenna says Liam Delap fully deserves his nomination for the Premier League Young Player of the Year award and was pleased to that the Blues striker isn’t the only one he has coached on the shortlist.
McKenna: Brentford Game Another in Which We Were Competitive
Blues manager Kieran McKenna felt last week’s 1-0 defeat at home to Brentford was typical of many of Town’s matches this season.
McKenna: Burley All-Clear Fantastic News
Town boss Kieran McKenna is delighted to learn that George Burley, the previous Blues manager to take charge of the club in the Premier League, has been given the all-clear following his cancer treatment.
McKenna: Phillips Unlikely to Return Before End of Season
Town boss Kieran McKenna says it’s unlikely Kalvin Phillips will play for the Blues again this season with the on-loan Manchester City man still struggling with an achilles issue.