Paul Taylor scored two penalties as Town’s U21s drew 2-2 with Millwall at Playford Road. The Blues were denied what would have been only their second victory of the season when Lions striker Jermaine Easter, who also scored his side’s first goal, netted the game’s third spotkick in injury time

Taylor and Scott Loach were amongst a number of first-teamers who didn’t make this week’s amongst a number of first-teamers who didn’t make the Portugal trip — skipper Carlos Edwards and striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake also remained behind - for a variety of organisational reasons, such as not having up to date passports. The training camp was arranged only a few days before the squad left on Sunday.

The Town side also included a trialist, Stoke City left-back Sam Westley, who was celebrating his 20th birthday today. Former Birmingham youngster Westley, the son of former Town youth coach Terry, also played in last week’s 3-0 behind-closed-doors friendly defeat to Colchester, which was played at Kesgrave High School. Regular left-back David October missed out through injury.

In windy conditions, it was the visitors — whose line-up included Richard Chaplow and Justin Hoyte in addition to Easter - who threatened most in the early stages, Loach making an impressive save down to his right from Jack Powell’s early freekick. Jordan Adekunle struck Town’s first effort of the game 10 minutes later but hit the sidenetting.

There was little other penalty area action until the final five minutes of the half with the wind making things difficult for both teams.

On 40 Taylor crossed deep from the right but Mark Timlin was unable to get in a strike. At the other end, Fred Onyedinma shot into the sidenetting from a tight angle on the right.

The visitors ought to have been in front just before the break, having got in behind the Town defence on two occasions. First Loach did well to recover from slipping to block from John Marquis on the edge of the area, then the same player stabbed wide when both he and Easter were through with only the Blues keeper to beat.

Millwall, with the wind now behind them, dominated the early stages of the second half, Tom Bender heading wide from a corner.

Loach again did well to push Easter’s shot onto the post in the 56th minute with the former Wales international having escaped on the left of the area, then the Town keeper made another impressive stop on 61, this time from Marquis’s header from a corner on the right.

Despite the Lions having been on top, Town took the lead a minute later via the first of the game’s three penalties, half-time sub Amir Berkane having been sent flying by Bender’s rather agricultural challenge just inside thebox. Taylor beat keeper Denzell Gerrer from the spot with the Blues’ first shot on target of the game.

The lead lasted until the 71st minute when Easter added the final touch from a few yards out after sub Charlie Penny had diverted a corner on the right through a crowd of players towards goal.

Matt Clarke headed wide for the Blues soon afterwards with Town looking more threatening than they had earlier in the half.

With a minute of scheduled time remaining Taylor put the Blues back in front with his second penalty of the afternoon, the striker having won the spotkick himself when he tricked his way past Niall McManus on the right. The former Peterborough man hit the ball to Gerrar’s right and into the net.

Mark Kennedy’s men looked to have sealed their second victory of the season but three minutes into stoppage time schoolboy defender George Fowler tripped Easter inside the box. The former Crystal Palace striker beat Loach from the spot to claim a point.

It would have been harsh on the visitors if they hadn’t taken anything from the game having dominated for long spells and having created more than enough chances to win it. Aside from the penalties, the Blues had few opportunities against a more experienced Millwall side.

Town’s two senior players were probably the standout performers, Loach making a number of impressive saves and handling capably throughout in what were trying conditions for keepers, while Taylor was lively and persistent throughout and took his two penalties confidently.

Amongst those watching the game were on-loan striker Jack Marriott, former Blue Geraint Williams, now the coach of the Wales U21s, U19s and U17s, Paul Goddard, who works for agents Stellar Management, Colchester United staff Richard Hall and Brian Owen, and ex-Blues keeper Shane Supple, who regularly brings young Irish keepers over to the Town academy.

U21s: Loach, Hammond, Westley (Leddy 79), Clarke, Fowler, Sowunmi, Doherty (Bekane 46), Lawrence, Adekunle (Galvin 70), Taylor, Timlin. Unused: McDermid, Ford.

Photo: Action Images

StowTractorBoy added 23:30 - Feb 4 Theobald you need to be careful what you wish for. Mick McCarthy was the saviour of our Club last season and has continued to build a team that has fantastic team spirit and a real togetherness which is what you need in our very tough league. Anderson for JET was a good deal as JET flattered to deceive and had many opportunities to prove himself but failed. As for Hewitt going out on loan, this is the best option for him as in my opinion he is not good enough and struggled with the U21s this season when he played. I hope I am wrong but I don't think he will make it at ITFC. I am one of those who go to see Ipswich win home and away and if we play lovely football then that is a bonus. If you get your wish and MM departs we will be in trouble as this league is not always for pretty football but more for grinding out results. I respect you have your opinion but I cannot agree MM has to go.

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tractorboyz82 added 10:18 - Feb 5 I think Taylor murphy mcgoldrick and murphy should start every game all can play in different positions Taylor murphy out wide plus if hunt and tabb are in the team tabb can play in the middle could change from 433 to 442 with ease with no changes needed.think nouble has been giving enough chances he can't header can't run with the ball at his feet.
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Gazelle added 13:07 - Feb 5 If anyone had seen a certain individual slumped drunk with a cigarette on a late night London train a few weeks ago they might have second thoughts as to his suitability to be a Town player.
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theobald1985 added 14:57 - Feb 5 stowtractor boy appreciate you have your opinions but i like us to play good football and personally would sooner lose trying to play the right way than win 1-o playing long ball negative tactics that in my mind are basically anti football. JET is twice the player anderson is its just we are playing such an outdated negative defensive style that his face did not fit.if we were playing 4231 with jet behind the main forward with creative license playing quick give and go attacking football he would have flourished.look how well hes doing in a struggling team at bristol 18 goals i think -the standard of that league is not an awful lot lower in fact between the bottom half of the champ and top half of L1 there is sod all differance. elliot hewitt needs to play for us he needs a proper chance and i think he will make it but maybe he attacks to much for mick. granted mick did a good job keeping us up playing this way but at some point we have to break away and play proper football.when i played youth football we were taught to play on the deck and to start with we would lose heavily to long ball scrappy sides but after a while they could not get near us and we played football we could be proud of.being long ball defensive but grinding out results the nasty way is nothing to be proud of and has no long term future in modern football

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blueboy1981 added 20:06 - Feb 5 Gazelle - IF that is true - then he should've been on his way OUT of the Club before now.
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