Two second-half Charlton goals cancelled out Shane McLoughlin’s first-half opener as Town’s U23s fell to a 2-1 defeat in the Professional Development League Two South at Playford Road this afternoon.
McLoughlin’s opener came at the end of a half Ipswich had dominated in terms of chances created, but the visitors asserted themselves in the second 45 minutes and Taylor Maloney scored a long-range winner with just over 15 minutes remaining after Josh Umerah had levelled five minutes beforehand.
Ipswich started positively and it wasn’t long until Aaron Drinan had a shot deflected wide for a corner. The home side kept the momentum going and James Blanchfield’s freekick called the Charlton keeper into action for the first time, the midfielder’s well-struck right-footed effort causing Dillon Phillips to get down to his right and push the ball away from danger.
The young Blues were still pressing for an opener in the ninth minute and Jason Pearce did well to block Ben Morris’s shot from inside the box, making it easy for Phillips to collect.
Town didn’t significantly threaten again until just shy of the half-hour mark when the impressive Ben Folami surged down the left wing before finding Drinan, whose weak shot was easily collected by the keeper.
Charlton’s best chance of the half came soon after as Reeco Hackett Fairchild found Nicky Ajobe in the middle of the box, but he failed to connect properly with the ball, making it easy for Nick Hayes to gather.
Ipswich continued to impress down the left. Tristan Nydam did well to touch the ball over a defender and into the path of Drinan who powered towards goal before hitting a hopeful shot over the bar.
With three minutes left of the half Ipswich finally made one of their chances count. Another quick move down the left wing allowed Bailey Clements to overlap and send a firm cross into the box for McLoughlin to volley across goal and into the far corner.
Charlton showed early signs of a comeback after the break but with a combination of misplaced passes and shots preventing any clear chances as the game moved towards the hour mark.
Despite creating significantly fewer opportunities in the opening 15 minutes of the second half Ipswich almost doubled their lead. Morris cut inside from the left and took a step towards the edge of the box before sending a right-footed shot bouncing into the post from the edge of the area.
Charlton upped their attacking threat shortly afterwards and came close to a leveller when Cotter stretched to block Anfernee Dijksteel’s shot only to turn towards the left corner of the goal and forcing Hayes to produce a great save to tip the ball out for a corner.
The Addicks missed two further chances before their first goal finally came in the 68th minute. Ajobe played the ball to Umerah inside the box, giving him an easy close-range finish past Hayes.
Two minutes after drawing level Charlton threatened again, but on this occasion Umerah lack composure as he headed Albie Morgan’s well measured cross wide at the back post.
However, the pressure continued and the visitors took the lead in somewhat fortunate circumstances. Phillips hit a low shot from a long way out which looked to be comfortable for Hayes to save low to his right, but somehow it managed to sneak past the former England U18 international keeper and get into the bottom right corner.
Ipswich did come close to a 91st minute equaliser but Morris’s freekick from the left side of the box hit the base of the right post before referee Rob Whitton blew the final whistle.
Despite the defeat U23s manager Gerard Nash will take a lot of positives from the assured performance of January signing Cotter who was a calming and confident presence at the back before being replaced in the 69th minute.
Drinan lasted the full 90 minutes but the endeavour and work-rate he showed in the first half was less effective as Ipswich relinquished possession for much of the second.
U23s: Hayes, Crowe, Clements, Blanchfield (Sagaf 69), Cotter (Marshall), Goteni, McLoughlin, Nydam, Morris, Folami, Drinan. Unused: Ware, McGavin, Lankester.