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Bracknell Town 0-0 Ipswich Town - Half-Time - Ipswich Town News

Town’s FA Cup first-round tie at Bracknell remains 0-0 at half-time.

Boss Kieran McKenna named a strong side with Vaclav Hladky is in goal with Janoi Donacien, Richard Keogh and Cameron Burgess, making his first start since his facial surgery, at the back.

Kane Vincent-Young was on the left with skipper Sam Morsy and Dom Ball in the centre of the midfield.

Cameron Humphreys was in the centre ahead of them with Kyle Edwards on the left and Kayden Jackson on the right behind lone central striker Freddie Ladapo.

Clubs can name nine subs in the FA Cup, using five, with the Blues including youngsters Edwin Agbaje and Gerrard Buabo, as well as two sub keepers, Christian Walton and new signing Joel Coleman.

Panutche Camara, George Edmundson, Leif Davis, Wes Burns and Conor Chaplin were also among the replacements.

Following the Last Post and a minute’s silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday, Town unsurprisingly started on the front foot and in the third minute Edwards cut in from the left but blazed well over.

In windy conditions and with the pitch sodden following heavy rain over the last couple of days, the home side won a couple of throws which were sent into the box and then a corner, Keogh heading away twice and then referee Charles Breakspear awarding a free-kick from the flag-kick.

Having started passing the ball around confidently, Town were finding it tougher going with the Robins giving them little time in possession.

Bracknell's Jack Dean was shown the first yellow card of the game in the 24th minute for a late tackle on Jackson with the Blues continuing to struggle to find a way through the home side, who were sticking diligently to their task.

Town had managed to get a few crosses in, however, Jackson getting to the byline on the right on 27, but without finding a blue shirt.

In the 32nd minute, Ladapo exchanged passes with Vincent-Young on the edge of the area before hitting a shot which home keeper Michael Eacott palmed away to his right. Jackson played the ball back in from the right and Humphreys bundled it wide under pressure at the near post.

Three minutes later, Ladapo was played in on the left and cut across to Vincent-Young, but keeper Eacott saved with his foot. The ball was half-cleared then returned to Morsy on the edge of the area but the Egypt international scraped his shot wide.

Town should have gone in front in the 40th minute when Edwards burst into the area on the left and cut back to Ladapo, who shot across goal and wide as a challenge came in.

Moments before the whistle, the Blues had a very good shout for a penalty when Donacien crossed from the right and found Humphreys, who took a touch and then had his heel clipped by George Knight as he shot, the midfielder appearing to have lost his footing as he chased back. However, referee Breakspear wasn’t interested.

Bracknell will have gone off the field at half-time the happier of the two sides having kept the Blues at bay for much of the half.

However, in the latter stages, Town had begun to show their superiority and Ladapo and Vincent-Young really should have given them the lead, while Humphreys might well have scored had he not been caught by Knight.

At the other end, Bracknell sent a few balls into the box from set pieces but with Keogh dealing with everything and with Hladky unthreatened.

The Blues will feel they will create more opportunities in the second half as the part-timers tire.

Bracknell: Eacott, Dean, Burden, Cheshire, Bayliss (c), Knight, Abisogun, Lodge, Esprit, English, Herbert. Subs: Sanders, Grant, Cook, Penton, Rees, Moore, Grant, Osu, Platt.

Town: Hladky, Donacien, Keogh, Burgess, Vincent-Young, Ball, Morsy (c), Jackson, Humphreys, Edwards, Ladapo. Subs: Walton, Coleman, Edmundson, Agbaje, Davis, Camara, Burns, Chaplin, Buabo. Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey).

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