U21s Beat QPR to End Winless Run Monday, 1st Feb 2016 16:21 by Blair Ferguson Conor McKendry’s first-half goal was enough to give Mark Kennedy’s side a 1-0 victory over QPR to end a run of nine winless games on a windy afternoon at Playford Road. With Town’s first-team game against Reading only a day away Kennedy was forced to field a young side which included Needham Market’s Keiran Morphew, who is on trial, at centre-back. Two early chances from defensive errors could have seen Ipswich two goals in front after only seven minutes, but Conor Hudnott in the QPR goal did enough to save the blushes of his defenders by blocking Sam Ford and Kyle Hammond. Ipswich had their own defensive scare shortly after when Victor Guldbrandsen’s poor header fell into the path of Andreas Komodikis, however he volleyed over the bar. Komodikis had the best opportunity of the half just before the quarter hour mark. Having been played through by Aaron Mitchell there was enough space to touch the ball past Ipswich keeper Jacob Marsden, but the resulting left-footed shot hit the outside of the post. Ten minutes before the break Town finally struck. Hammond hit in a cross from the right wing which was touched down by Ford towards the edge of the box, allowing McKendry to strike a low volley into the bottom left corner. In the second period Ipswich lost their attacking threat from the first half and were instead forced to earn the victory from the back. Tom Rosenthal was the first to spurn a scoring opportunity — shooting straight at Marsden — before Jake Mulraney was denied by the Town keeper. Morphew was on hand to clear Reece Grego-Cox’s goal-bound effort only a few minutes prior to Marsden making a great save low to left in order to deny Ryan Manning’s freekick from sneaking in. Despite QPR throwing everything at Town in the closing stages it was substitute Cemal Ramadan who broke away from an opposition corner one-on-one with Hudnott in the QPR goal who easily collected a tame effort from just outside the box. Trialist Morphew stood out for Ipswich throughout the game, offering a composed performance beside Joe Robinson at centre-back, making a number of important blocks and tackles as well as attempts to play the ball out rather than sending it long. U21s: Marsden, Kenlock, Guldbrandsen, Morphew, Robinson, Hammond, McDonnell, Ford, McLoughlin (Blanchfield 69), McKendry (Ramadan 82). Unused: Wright, Smith, Meldrum.
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