Town's reserves drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace at Portman Road on Wednesday evening. Liam Trotter's goal cancelled out Louis Grabban's strike for the visitors.
Owen Garvan was an interested spectator, whilst Palace representatives included Bob Dowie (director of football), Iain Dowie (manager) and Neil McDonald (assistant manager).
Town included Lewis Price in goal, Gerard Nash, who has just returned from a loan spell at Hartlepool, and Vemund Brekke Skard partnered Jim Magilton in the middle of the park.
The Blues had the first real attack on three minutes when good link-up play between Billy Clarke and Darryl Knights resulted in Jaime Peters shooting wide.
Stuart Ainsley then made a crucial interception to prevent a Palace attacker being left one-on-one with Price.
On nine, a ball over the Town defence from Eero Peltonen gave Louis Grabban the chance to score, but he lifted the ball over Price and the crossbar.
Town were forced to make a substitution on 17 with right-back Scott Mitchell being replaced by youngster Russell Short. Mitchell was suffering with a hamstring problem.
In the 22nd minute, good play in the corner from Town allowed Jaime Peters to whip in a great ball but a Palace defender just cleared it before Clarke got to it.
Two minutes later and Jim Magilton played a short ball to Vemund Brekke Skard who should've shot from 18 yards out but he didn't and the ball was intercepted by the grateful Palace defence.
The Eagles then went up the other end and had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Evetts. Peltonen went down under the challenge of Chris Casement but it would've been very harsh against Town to have that given against them.
On 30, Peters beat Rhys Wiggins before sending in another delightful cross that was deflected straight back to him but he somehow fired over from two yards out.
The visitors then went up the other end and showed Town how to finish. Casement won a header on the edge of his own box and the ball broke nicely to Grabban who slotted past Price.
On 35 minutes, Gerard Nash needed treatment for a hip injury which had been sustained around 10 minutes ago when he won a header before being bodychecked in mid-air. Nash decided he would try and carry on but he didn't last long.
Ainsley had a handball decision go against him and James Dayton whipped freekick was well met by Phil Starkey who had ghosted in round the back post but his header was straight at Price.
On 38, Nash was forced off and Liam Trotter had to replace the luckless Irishman. This meant Sammy Moore had to revert to right-back and Russell Short moved to centre-back with Casement. Magilton was playing just behind Trotter and Skard in central midfield.
Three minutes before the break and a lovely ball from Magilton released Trotter who volleyed the ball into the ground with his left foot and it was easily cleared.
Palace then went up the other end and Grabban came close to scoring his second. Short made a mistake by giving up possession far too easily and Grabban just seemed to run through the Town backline before Price made a good stop. He parried the ball out to Dayton who fired way over the crossbar.
In the one minute of stoppage time, Clarke's cross was met by Trotter but his header was blocked for a corner which was easily dealt with by Palace.
At half-time, Danny Haynes was mingling with fans, having photos taken and signing autographs. The young striker is now two weeks away from pushing his claim for a first team place again.
Two minutes after the re-start and Peters lost the ball and Dayton hit a shot from 20 yards, which Price had to turn round his post. Palace were camped in the Town half and after Grabban's shot was blocked, Dayton's shot curled just wide of Price's far post.
Town then equalised on 50 after good thinking from Magilton. He played a quick freekick into the path of Darryl Knights who cut the ball back for the oncoming Trotter to hit past Speroni in the Palace goal.
On 55, Palace's Arron Fray was booked after going through the back of substitute Trotter.
Two minutes later and Sammy Moore burst forward from right-back before finding Clarke who volleyed over from 20 yards with his weaker right foot.
Town then made their first substitution that hadn't been forced upon them. Cathal Lordan replaced Magilton in midfield and the captain's armband was handed to Chris Casement. Magilton went straight off down the tunnel and later went up to the director's box to meet Iain Dowie. The pair used to be together at the Northern Ireland set-up.
Palace then made a substitution on 69. Taku Watanabe replaced the lively Louis Grabban in attack.
Three minutes later, more good work from Peters resulted in a fine cross coming in from the right which Trotter was only able to flick on and the ball ran across the face of the goal.
A Cathal Lordan corner was then headed onto the roof of Speroni's net by Casement. Lee Hills then replaced Ben Kudjodi in the Palace midfield.
With ten minutes remaining, Watanabe headed just past Price's post after a fine left wing cross.
In the 82nd minute Anthony Straker was invited to shoot by the Town defence and this he did, but his shot flew over the bar.
Town almost won it at the death when another great ball in from Peters was almost met by Knights from six yards out.
A good performance from Town considering the age of the team. Magilton dictated the play in midfield before he went off and Casement impressed at the back. Skard covered a lot of ground but never really got into the game whilst Jaime Peters really pushed his place for a first team start with an excellent performance.
Ipswich Town: 1 Lewis Price, 2 Scott Mitchell (13 Russell Short, 17), 3 Stuart Ainsley, 4 Vemund Brekke-Skard, 5 Chris Casement, 6 Gerard Nash (12 Liam Trotter, 38), 7 Jim Magilton (14 Cathal Lordan, 60), 8 Sammy Moore, 9 Billy Clarke, 10 Jaime Peters and 11 Darryl Knights. Unused: 15 Edward Upson and 16 Jordan Rhodes.
Crystal Palace: 1 Julian Speroni, 2 Arron Fray, 3 Rhys Wiggins, 4 Phil Starkey, 5 Glenn Wilson, 6 Moses Swaibu, 7 Ben Kudjodi (15 Lee Hills, 76), 8 Anthony Straker, 9 Louis Grabban (12 Taku Watanabe, 69), 10 Eero Peltonen and 11 James Dayton. Unused: 13 David Wilkinson (GK), 14 Matt Fish and 16 Jamie Smith. Referee: G Evetts. Attendance: 645.