A goal in each half from Brian Galach saw Crawley to a 2-0 victory over a very young Blues side at the Broadfield Stadium and ended Town’s Papa John’s Trophy campaign at the group stage. Galach headed the opener in the 17th minute and added the second on 55 to win the tie for the Reds and drop the Blues to the bottom of Group B.

Town boss Paul Lambert named the expected youthful team with Dylan Crowe and Levi Andoh making their Town debuts and Tommy Smith, Allan Viral, Zanda Siziba and Ross Crane their full Blues bows.

David Cornell, the most senior player in the side, skippered from between the sticks with former England U16, U17 and U18 international Crowe, 19, at right-back, Smith, 18, at left-back and Andoh and Corrie Ndaba, both 20, the centre-halves.

In midfield, Liam Gibbs, 17, was joined by Viral, 18, and 17-year-old Siziba, while Tyreece Simpson, 18, played down the centre of the attack with on-loan Borussia Mönchengladbach wideman Keanan Bennetts on the left and Crane, signed from Bury Town in the summer, on the right.

Among the six subs was East Bergholt High School pupil Jack Manly, a forward aged 16 years and 22 days.

As was the case in the previous game against Gillingham, the Blues face a £5,000 fine for contravening the competition’s selection rules.

Crawley changed all 11 of their players following their 6-5 FA Cup win at Torquay on Sunday and named only four substitutes but still more senior than the Blues’ team.

The home side struck the first shot of the game in the sixth minute, Ricardo German turning away from Ndaba, who had a good hold of his shirt, and taking the ball towards the edge of the box before scuffing his effort wide.

Crawley, who had had the better of the opening minutes, took the lead in the 17th minute through Galach. Sam Ashford whipped in a cross from the left and the diminutive striker headed into the ground and then the roof of the net from six yards.

The Town youngsters were trying to play their football but all too often a perhaps sometimes overambitious pass would go astray or would be cut out by a Crawley boot when getting into the final third.

The Red Devils might have done better in the 26th minute when Tarryn Allarakhia overhit a threaded pass straight to Cornell.

Chances continued to be a rare occurrence at both ends with Town maintaining their passing football but without being able to create an opportunity.

On 42 Crane brought the ball in from the right and fed Viral who had broken into the area but the French midfielder’s attempted turn sent the ball through to home keeper Stuart Nelson.

That was the nearest the Blues got to threatening a leveller before the half-time whistle was blown by referee Sam Purkiss.

Town had passed the ball around tidily at the back but had been unable to create anything of note against their more senior opponents.

Equally, Crawley had carved out few chances of their own with the goal the game’s one outstanding opportunity.

Crawley swapped German for Zaid Al-Hussaini ahead of the second half, then three minutes after restart Crane cut in fron the right and hit a shot which deflected well wide.

A minute later Bennetts, who had been quiet in the first half, dribbled in from the left and won a corner.

Town, who won a third corner of the half moments later, were starting the half looking more incisive. However, on 52 Crawley broke quickly and Nathan Ferguson shot well over.

And three minutes later it was 2-0 with Galach again the scorer. The Polish frontman was sent away into the area on the left by Ferguson and hit a well-struck shot across Cornell and into the corner of the net.

Crawley switched Allarakhia for debutant Nicholas Tsaroulla as Town prepared for the restart with qualification for the next stage of the competition now looking a big ask for the young Blues.

Six minutes later they swapped Ferguson, who had picked up a knock, for Henry Burnett, who was also making his debut.

The Reds were full of confidence having extended their lead and in the 65th minute sub Tsaroulla cut in from the left and hit a shot which deflected over the bar.

Town introduced two more debutants in the 68th minute with Zak Brown replacing Crane, while Manly at 16 years and 22 days became the club’s second youngest player, after Connor Wickham, for Viral.

Crawley continued to have chances. Tsaroulla cut inside and found David Sesay whose attempt was blocked with the ball subsequently deflecting behind.

Sub Brown hit Town’s first shot on goal from the edge of the box in the 75th minute from a Bennetts cross from the left but failed to cause Nelson any problems. Three minutes later, Ashford shot wide at the other end.

Town claimed a penalty in the 77th minute when a Bennetts cross struck Manny Adebowale’s arm but referee Purkiss waved away the appeals. Town have seen less convincing shouts go against them in recent weeks.

Six minutes later, Brown shot just wide and as the ball passed the post Bennetts and Rafiq Khaleel squared up off the ball and both were yellow-carded.

Khaleel will count himself lucky not to have picked up a second booking moments later when he jumped into the back of Siziba with the ball bouncing, catching him with his studs for the second time. Referee Purkiss let him off with a talking to.

Siziba won’t have been too disappointed to see Khaleel depart moments later having suffered an injury, leaving Crawley with 10 men for injury time in which neither side threatened to add to the goals.

The young Blues never looked like being able to find a way through Crawley, who looked comfortable throughout, although again will feel a refereeing decision went against them when they weren't awarded a penalty in the second half.

At the same time, the game was never in any danger of being turned into a one-sided contest with the Town youngsters seeing plenty of the ball and making a bright start to the second period.

The second goal all but killed the game, however, the youngsters never gave up the fight and will benefit from the experience.

Arsenal U21s having beat Gillingham 4-2 on penalties in the evening’s other game following a 1-1 draw to top the group. Gillingham were second with Crawley third and Town, who lost two of their three games, bottom.

The Blues are next in action a week on Saturday when they face Shrewsbury at Portman Road in League One.

Crawley: Nelson, McNerney, Adebowale, Sesay, Ferguson (Burnett 62), Allarakhia (Tsaroulla 56), Khaleel, Ashford, Galach, German (Al-Hussaini 46). Unused: Kowalczyk.

Town: Cornell, Crowe, Andoh, Ndaba, Smith, Viral (Manly 68), Gibbs, Siziba, Bennetts, Simpson, Crane (Brown 68). Unused: Holy, Armin, Healy, Chirewa. Sam Purkiss (London).

Photo: Pagepix

itfchorry added 21:40 - Nov 10 Thanks Beatties Back Pocket 1981 - We played over 60 plus games using no more than about 16 players - Went for all competitions- They would play all over Europe during the week - But still turn up on a Saturday.
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ringwoodblue added 21:46 - Nov 10 Yes it's a pointless trophy, yes it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things this season but it underlines the continuing decline of our club for me as apart from our ladies team, there is nothing for us fans to cheer about. Lamberts total disregard of any cup competition is very disappointing.
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MickMillsTash added 21:46 - Nov 10 12 young players get a game - if 1 or 2 make the step up and challenge for a position next year like McGavin is challenging this year then tonight will not be a waste of time.
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DerryfromBury added 21:52 - Nov 10 The only thing you can say about tonight's performance was, it gave the youngsters a run out. A lot of fellow supporters will say its no big deal to be out of any cup competition this season, we can now concentrate on the league and promotion. I'm sorry, but that's not true, we supporters deserve much much more. We expect the management team to select the best 11 players available no matter what game. We expect each and everyone of those 11 to be proud to pull on the shirt and We expect them to have the intention they are going to win every game. As for thinking we will get promotion from league 1 be it automatic or through the play offs, don't hold your breath.

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dukey44 added 21:54 - Nov 10 Got to say we play excelent across the back 4 and going forward we are tosh.... Why we out pass teams cause back 4 must play 3/4 of the passing... Then less than 10shots on goal nearly every game... Pointless...
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VanDusen added 21:54 - Nov 10 Hope the EFL get what they deserve - a final contested between U21 Premier Teams that their 'fans' don't even realise is happening, disguised only by the fact no-one's allowed at Wembley anyway. Pleased we haven't played that game and put out weakened sides to go out. Frankly if you support this competition you might as well sign up to Project Big Picture and let Liverpoo et al degrade English football even further. Back to the league which still has some integrity (for now at least).

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ArnieM added 21:57 - Nov 10 I didn't watch tonight's game . Family commitments called . But I've read through the above comments with interest and find myself agreeing with the overriding disappointment and flatness that runs through our fan base. I think I get what PL is “ trying” to do - create a passing team. But we are SO SLOW and pedestrian in our build up . Keeping possession doesn't mean playing 90% of your passing game just in front of your own box . Where's the injection of PACE and CHANGE of pace ? Where are the FORWARD defence splitting passes? As people rightfully suggest . There is only promotion now ( again), and therefore no hiding place for the players . Are they up to the task ? Is Paul Lambert ? I think we'll know in a couple of months time . Sadly, I'm not hopeful anymore.

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RegencyBlue added 22:03 - Nov 10 Is it Lambert who doesn't care about Cup competitions or does it come from Evans. I seem to recall exactly the same complaints about not taking Cups seriously when MM was manager. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense but then not much about the Evans regime does to me!
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Icantbelieveyousaidt added 22:03 - Nov 10 I read today in the monthly issue of 'Suffolk Village Idiots' that 75% of its subscribers also subscribe to TWTD on a regular basis. 75% of you have just proved what an accurate survey that was.
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 22:06 - Nov 10 In essence, we have paid £5000 to exit this competition. I am personally sick and tired 9f losing every game. Not trying to win games is infectious. No wonder the first team look like they feel every game is a chore.
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blueconscience added 22:10 - Nov 10 Would be nice if the second string experienced a win here and there
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VanDusen added 22:14 - Nov 10 No Whoisjimmyjuan - we are competing at the top of a v.conpetitive league. We've won every home game without conceding a goal and definitely 1, arguably 2 of our 3 away losses were robbed by the ref. We're playing all the passing football that the anti-McCarthy brigade claimed was all they wanted as well as their demands of giving the young players a chance. And it's a truncated season with barely a week off without cups let alone with them even before the likelihood of a Covid postponement or three clutters the schedules (from opponents if not us). We were robbed in a very close cup tie on Sat against one of the strongest teams we could have drawn. And you're doom and gloom for going out of a trophy where we are literally being asked to lick crumbs from the Premier League rather than keeping the one space where lower league clubs have a chance of cup glory in their own right... Honestly the mentality on here is crazy?!!

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cat added 22:15 - Nov 10 Fk me, I could murder a pizza lol
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billys_boots added 22:20 - Nov 10 Crawley Reserves v ITFC u18s. Just so glad ‘elite' sport is able to continue during Lockdown.
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stormypetrel added 22:25 - Nov 10 No excuses Lambert...promotion or bust....out of all the trophies ... so your sandbags for the end of season excuse list have gone straight away
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DaGremloid added 22:35 - Nov 10 After 57 years I'm pretty much done with this club. No pride, no plan, no chance of reaching the top ever again. I'm sick to death of having the p**s taken out of me when it comes to cup competitions. Why rest the players tonight when we're not playing again for eleven days! What the f**k is the point of that? I bet we lose to Shrewsbury - it happened last season after a so called 'rest'. They had a bloody rest for the second half of last season! Back in the glory days we had a good go at all 4 competitions with a squad of 15 or 16 players, on heavy, muddy pitches and one substitute per game. Football's gone soft and so has this club. I hate it. With my other sporting teams - the NZ All Blacks and Essex CCC - doing so well I no longer need Town. And I never ever thought I'd say that when I was an Ipswich fantatic as a kid in the 70's and early 80's. I'm gutted, despairing, cheesed off, and upset.

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Cloddyseedbed added 22:36 - Nov 10 Icantbelieveyousaidt if you are insinuating that supporters of ITFC that want our club to progress and get better and get frustrated by lacklustre selections and performances are village idiots then you sir are the idiot. When I was a young boy I supported a club that were on the up and were getting better every season and improvement was witnessed by all. We had a manager who had a rocky start but we could all see the plan of going forwards. He was called Bobby Robson. I was one of the lucky ones to witness that time. I have now witnessed many years of decline and to be brutally honest I can see the current management team getting us out of this league. We are not going to get out of the league we are in playing 70% of our football just infront of our own 18 yard line. If you don't score goals you'll never win a football match. I want and expect better for my club and team. Our team lacks motivation and steel. Am I being a village idiot to expect better results from a manager who has been in the job as long as he has?

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Cloddyseedbed added 22:38 - Nov 10 * should be can't see us getting out of this league not can!
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ringwoodblue added 22:39 - Nov 10 Surely if Lambert wanted to give our young players more experience of playing games like this (which I applaud) the whole point would be to stay in the competition for as long as possible so they get more than one or two games. Therefore he should've mixed in enough senior fringe players to win the game and qualify for the next round but no, he knows best!
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Linkboy13 added 22:42 - Nov 10 The most disappointing thing of tonight's game was not one of our youngsters stood out and staked a claim for a place in the first team squad. Gone are the days when we used to produce players that went on to represent England. This bunch are pretty average im afraid .
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Icantbelieveyousaidt added 23:04 - Nov 10 Cloddyseedbed. You have proved my point. Stop keep going on about the old days! You moaned even then, so much so that the gentleman that you mentioned called you a zombie. All that was two generations ago. Yes I believe that TWTD is a superb site and expertly run. It does though have a high proportion of village idiot representatives. Oh and by the way I am 70 years of age, but have moved on....

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runningout added 23:06 - Nov 10 Don't want to down Paul L but It does seem very similar to last season. We all know squad needs trimming and it should be sooner rather than later. League 1 is strong!! If our talented lot think they can turn up, score one or two, sit back, they are going nowhere. Reckon we are one or two decent players short of a brilliant squad.
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algarvefan added 23:28 - Nov 10 Well this is my two penneth worth. Firstly tonight, well done to the very young players, many of whom were very proud to be given the opportunity to pull on a first team shirt tonight, you did not let the club down and you gave your best. If you read some of the very negative comments on here please understand that some of these so called grown ups moan about everything, all the time, it's not you, you did ok especially the debut lads. Work hard and some of you will be regulars in a few years time. As a person who has worked with young people over many years, be aware that they can be destroyed by careless and thoughtless comments. The Pope John Paul the II cup is a worthless and time consuming attraction which is all about money, it should be left to the youngsters to compete, it is good for them and not worth injuring our regular players in, I know they have a break coming up but they have also had a heavy run of fixtures, it will allow niggles and minor injuries to heal. Why get so hot under the collar about such a pointless competition? I will however concede I am not a fan of the way we play, primarily because it is difficult to see where the goals are going to come from this season. Please Mr Lambert can we lose some of the reverse gear we play in and move the ball with pace up the field. By all means pass it backwards if it will keep possession but all too often it is a first choice of players rather than running with the ball or passing forward. We carry little threat up front and have done for some time now, we need to allow our players the freedom to cut loose and have a go, mix up our game a bit. Having been a fan for a very long time I was a big fan of the 'we're going to score one more than you' game of football, lets let our players express themselves more and enjoying scoring again. If we really want to win the title, we need to really go for it, stop playing with fear and we can do it lads. As for tonight I salute the youth they did OK and will have learnt from their experience, they need our praise to progress, it's good to remember that.

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Bert added 23:36 - Nov 10 I have no problem with Lambert giving the teenagers a chance to play competitive football. This is a Mickey Mouse cup with a Mickey Mouse sponsor so why on earth we would risk any first team players ? Our U18's versus a Crawley side with experienced players does not warrant a tirade against Lambert who is doing what fans asked for by giving the young boys a flavour of men's football. Like many I am beginning to question what Ipswich supporters on here really want. Thankfully, the silent majority are likely to be a little more balanced in their thoughts.

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Michael101 added 23:46 - Nov 10 Linkboy13,think you hit the mail on the head there,good to see the young and getting a run out but Wilson hasn't played a few weeks now ,dozzell could have played this game then sit out the rest of his suspension,Jackson and Norwood could have maybe done a half each,so maybe the young uns might get another game of three.
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