A young Town reserve side lost 2-0 at home to a strong Fulham line-up at Portman Road on Wednesday night. The visitors included the likes of John Collins, Junichi Inamoto, Pierre Wome and Zat Knight in their starting eleven.
Prior to kick-off there was an emotional minute's silence for Dale Roberts, the man who took the Town second string to the FA Premier Reserve League (South) last season. Both sides wore black armbands during the game.
Alun Armstrong, Town's most experienced player on the night, had the first chance of the opening half. Fulham keeper Martin Herrera did well to tip his shot over the bar.
A couple of minutes later James Pullen was equal to a Calum Willock effort on the turn from virtually point-blank range.
The were few other goalmouth incidents until the last seven minutes of the half when Ian Westlake almost seized onto a ball spilled by Hererra. Fortunately for the Cottagers the keeper reacted quickly to clear.
Fulham went ahead in the 39th minute through a piece of excellence which seemed out of place in an otherwise less than entertaining half. Right-sided midfielder Malik Buari turned inside Matt Robinson leaving him in a heap, before curling a sublime outside of the right-foot effort beyond Pullen.
The Blues almost hit back with three minutes left of the half, Westlake and Dean Bowditch interchanging passes before Bowditch's shot was well saved by Herrera.
Just before the half-time whistle Junuchi Inamoto, watched from the press box by four Japanese journalists, was lucky to escape a card of some colour after kicking out at Antonio Murray off the ball.
Alun Armstrong came off at the break, possibly due to a clash of heads late in the first half, Sam Morrow taking his place.
Town's youngsters had competed well with their more illustrious counterparts but the early period of the second half was largely Fulham's.
Pullen made an uncertain save just after the break when Willock was involved in an impressive freekick routine where he took the ball forward and shot from the edge of the area.
The Town keeper stopped it but saw the ball run out of his hands, however the linesman's flag went up prior to a Fulham player hitting the back of the net.
Just before the hour Ian Westlake crossed well from the right after a short corner and Chris Hogg ought to have got more than a slight flick on the ball. His touch took the ball away from Dean Bowditch inside the six-yard box and the chance was gone.
Two minutes later Pullen made an excellent save from Willock with the Fulham striker just a yard or two out. Town were living on borrowed time with the ball often flashing across the box and on one occasion Lee Beevers clearing off the line.
Finally, a second Fulham goal did come as Hogg was well and truly out-paced by Andrejs Stolcers, the Latvian lobbing the advancing Pullen.
In the latter stages the Blues should have netted at least one goal. Bowditch, given a difficult game by the excessively tall Mark Hudson, headed a Morrow cross straight at Herrera when anywhere else and it would have been a goal before Hogg headed a Westlake cross against the bar.
Given the experience of the opposition this was by no means a bad result for the Town second string. Antonio Murray again did well after a decent performance against Harwich and Parkeston last week while Nabil Abidallah looks to have renewed confidence since Joe Royle took over. As ever Ian Westlake was busy throughout.
Sam Morrow looked a hot property when on as sub while Dean Bowditch didn't have the best of days whilst still showing some good touches.
Town: Pullen, Bloomfield, Richards, Murray, Beevers, Hogg, Abidallah (Mitchell 75), Westlake, Armstrong (Morrow 46), Bowditch, Robinson (Boardley 75).