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Boston United 2-5 Town - Ipswich Town News

Nicky Forster netted twice as the Blues continued their winning start to pre-season with a 5-2 win at Boston's York Street. Owen Garvan, Jim Magilton and an Alan White own goal completed the Town scoring, while Jason Lee and Daryl Clare were on the scoresheet for the Pilgrims.

The Blues started with a line-up similar to the one which began the game at Cambridge but with Dean Bowditch replacing Kevin Horlock and Jimmy Juan coming in for Jim Magilton. Bowditch formed a three-man frontline with Forster and Parkin.

Forster went close early on but had a strike saved by former Town keeper Nathan Abbey and then saw a shot hit the top of the bar.

However, it was the home side who would go in front in the 24th minute, through former Nottingham Forest man Jason Lee, the striker lobbing Lewis Price with the Pilgrims' first shot of the game.

The Blues struck back just after the half hour when Forster converted Darren Currie's freekick from close in. The striker had been cynically felled on the edge of the penalty area and the Boston defender was perhaps lucky not to see a red card.

Town made seven changes at the break, Shane Supple replacing Lewis Price, Sammy Moore taking over from Fabian Wilnis, Aidan Collins coming on for Jason De Vos, Kevin Horlock putting in an appearance at the full-back position he played in his Swindon days in place of Matt Richards, Owen Garvan on for Ian Westlake. Jim Magilton for Jimmy Juan and Dean McDonald, who had a spell on trial at Boston last season, on for Dean Bowditch.

Garvan was quickly into the action and put the Blues in front in the 46th minute, rebounding his own shot off the bar.

Dean McDonald, playing wide on the right, came close to adding a third Town goal with a 25 yarder, just prior to Forster netting his second of the game and third of pre-season with a low shot.

Daryl Clare pulled one back as Steve Evans's side broke quickly, before former Norwich keeper Scott Howie made a fine save from Sam Parkin.

Ex-Colchester man Alan White put Darren Currie's corner beyond his own keeper in the 80th minute and soon after Parkin was again prevented from opening his Town goals account by Howie.

Skipper Jim Magilton added the fifth late on, deftly chipping the keeper from outside the area, a goal very reminiscent of his effort against Watford two seasons ago.

Darren Currie, Nicky Forster and Jimmy Juan were amongst Town's more impressive players in the first half, while Owen Garvan and Dean McDonald shone in the second. The Blues were more clinical during the second half, but dominated throughout. Both Town keepers again had quiet afternoons.

Town: Price (Supple 46), Wilnis (Moore 46), De Vos (Collins 46), Naylor, Richards (Horlock 46), Currie, Juan (Magilton 46), Westlake (Garvan 46), Bowditch (McDonald 46), Forster, Parkin.

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