Town’s U23s came from two goals down at half-time to draw 2-2 with Crystal Palace at their Copers Cope training ground this afternoon, Conor McKendry and sub Albert Wilton (pictured) - who scored a hat-trick for the U18s at the weekend - netting the goals.
The Eagles went in front in only the sixth minute through Freddie Ladapo and doubled their lead on 17 via Levi Lumeka as the home side began the game very strongly.
But the Blues were in charge for most of the second half and Gerard Nash’s team pulled a goal back on 50 when McKendry, who scored four and assisted two in the last U23s match of 2017, the 6-0 hammering of Coventry, diverted a deep cross from the left across the keeper and into the net at the far post.
The home side had chances to seal their victory on the break, Town keeper Michael Crowe making a number of important stops, but with three minutes left on the clock Wilton turned a Ben Morris cross from the left home to claim a deserved point.
🎥 U23 | Conor McKendry and Albert Wilton were on target as Town's U23s came from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace earlier today #itfc pic.twitter.com/KDsV0Ot94u
— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) January 8, 2018
Wilton has had a profitable start to 2018 having grabbed a hat-trick for the U18s in Saturday’s 5-1 victory over Coventry City at Playford Road, Steven Cahill and Idris El Mizouni netting the other two goals for Alan Lee’s side.
U23s: M Crowe, D Crowe, Clements, Blanchfield, Marshall (Wilton 86), Webber, McKendry, McLoughlin, Folami (Patterson 71), Drinan, Morris. Unused: Hayes, McGavin, Ndaba.