The second half performance of Matt Richards was the highlight of a very workmanlike display by a young Ipswich reserves side as they travelled to Hadleigh and won 1-0.
A nice sunny evening saw a fairly large crowd arrive at Hadleigh to see a young ipswich side.
Hadleigh nearly took the lead in the fifth minute when Peat was forced to make a good save from a close range header.
It looked like it would be a tight game similar to the Woodbridge match, but that turned out to be one of only two Hadleigh chances, the next coming in the 85th minute!
This was a much improved display from the Woodbridge game and the coaches, Steve McCall and Ian Smith must have been impressed by the young team as will the watching, Willie Donachie, Tony Mowbray, Bryan Klug and the Hadleigh based Jermaine Wright.
The first half saw Ipswich chances fall to Flack, Robinson and Okay but Barron was the most impressive.
The young Scot, Liam Craig, had two good chances and should have put at least one away but he made
amends in the 43rd minute when he converted a glancing header from a well placed Robinson cross.
The second half started with Matt Richards replacing Okay at left-back and a 49th minute Barron effort saved.
In the 55th minute Barron was replaced by Boardley, this allowed Matt Richards to move to
midfield from where he dominated the rest of the game with Alfie Kamara playing the holding role.
Ipswich looked in little trouble but could not
turn their endless possession into goals. The front line of Robinson and Craig were replaced with the schoolboys Knight and Clark, Billy Clark the young Irisman in his silver boots, impressed again and is one to watch for the future. The final substitution saw Artun replaced by Manning.
A very professional display by a young Town team.
An under-17 side play at Southwold on Saturday, Matt Bloomfield hoping to return from injury as an over-age player.
The Hadleigh pitch looked in need of water but was very flat and seemed to assist Ipswich in
their passing game. It seems to be the preferred venue for the mid-winter reserve games which are intended to be moved away from Portman Road.
Reserves: Peat, Okay, Artun, Hogg, Mitchell, Kamara, Barron, Flack, Reid, Craig, Robinson,
Report by Alasdair Ross