Town’s U21s played out an entertaining 1-1 draw on a pleasant autumn evening under the floodlights at an Ashton Gate. James Alabi’s finish on 79 minutes after good work by Dylan Connolly was cancelled out by a strike by City’s Charlie Harris five minutes later.
Mark Kennedy was able to call on several first-team squad players with Alex Henshall and Connolly on the wings, Myles Kenlock starting at left-back and Alabi leading the line up front.
Town played a 4-4-2 formation with Alabi and Cemal Ramadan respectively playing the number nine and 10 roles. Luke Woolfenden and Joe Robinson were flanked by George Fowler and Kenlock at the back and Kyle Hammond partnered Andre Dozzell in central midfield.
While both sides took their time to settle into a pattern of play in an open start to the game, Town were going direct to Alabi, using his strength to tie-up the Robins’ defence and create space, whereas City were building from the back with Tom Fry playing in a free role between the lines.
The Blues were winning more of the set pieces but were unable to capitalise on these while the hosts were seeking to exploit opportunities on the break.
However, there were few clear-cut chances before the break although Michael Crowe looked solid when making a series of routine saves.
The inventive Dozzell was replaced midway through the first half by first-year scholar Flynn Downes after picking up a knock and Robins defender Zak Vyner was yellow-carded for a rash challenge on Connolly after half an hour. An ongoing battle between Alabi and Vyner was a feature of the first half.
The second half began in a similar vein with Town continuing to rely on individual efforts, most notably from Henshall and from space created by the ever-industrious Alabi.
As the half reached its midway point the Blues began to take control with Hammond pulling the strings in midfield, while Connolly was becoming an increasing threat attacking the byline on the right. City by now were being reduced to sporadic attacks on the counter.
Watch back the goals from the U21's 1-1 draw with Bristol City at Ashton Gate, with James Alabi on target for #itfc
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— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) October 20, 2015
A series of corners failed to produce any meaningful chances but when the ball once again broke to Connolly on the right side of the penalty area, the Irish U21 international drove forward and cut back a low cross for Alabi to turn in to the net from inside the six-yard box and give Town a lead which had been coming.
The goal forced the Robins to try and wrest the initiative. Kenlock did well to scramble away one dangerous attack within two minutes of the opening goal but three minutes City found their equaliser.
A well-worked Robins move allowed Lloyd Kelly to drive in a cross from deep outside the right-hand side of the Blues’ penalty area. The ball flashed diagonally back across the goal eluding all defenders and fell to Charlie Harris on the opposite corner of the box. Crowe could do nothing to stop his well taken drive back across the goal.
While Crowe was called on to make one further save, the only other event to record was Ronaldo Jones replacing Ramadan as an entertaining game petered out to a draw.
Town may feel they deserved to win especially given their strong second half performance and they could have added to their tally with more confident finishing, while the hosts will feel that they deserved something from a game in which they created some good openings on the counter.
Meanwhile, the Blues' U18s will be in Suffolk Premier Cup action against Leiston at Victory Road on Wednesday (KO 7.45pm). Town are entering a side in the competition for the first time since 2012/13.
U21’s: Crowe, Kenlock, Robinson, Woolfenden, Fowler, Henshall, Dozzell (Downes), Hammond, Connelly, Ramadan (Jones), Alabi. Unused: Wright, McKendry.
Photo: ITFC