Former Town skipper Carlos Edwards netted the decisive penalty as Bury Town beat a very young Blues side - augmented in the first half by Teddy Bishop, Kayden Jackson, Myles Kenlock and Brett McGavin - 5-3 on penalties at the Denny Bros Ram Meadow Stadium following a 1-1 draw to claim the inaugural Martin Swallow Challenge Trophy.

Ipswich Town Supporters' Club had revealed shortly ahead of kick-off that the west and east Suffolk clubs would play their pre-season friendly for a trophy dedicated to Bury's PA announcer Martin Swallow.

The Bury St Edmunds resident, who has also been an active ITSC committee member and dedicated to following both clubs, has been battling a brain tumour over the past two years.

But he made it back to be the man on the microphone for the eagerly-anticipated match, not knowing he had a trophy to present.

In front of Town manager Paul Cook it was former Ipswich captain Edwards, 42, introduced as a second-half substitute, who played the leading role in deciding the destiny of the trophy.

The former Trinidad & Tobago international forced home a 71st minute equaliser to Cameron Humphries' eighth-minute opener for Town.

With no goals following it saw the game end in front of a Covid-restricted capacity of 675 with a penalty shootout.

Bury's players were impeccable from the spot, having started first, with Ipswich's second penalty, from new first-year scholar Jack Manly, saved by Ben Mayhew.

It left Edwards, as the fifth taker, to have the crowning glory for the hosts, with the former Sunderland winger cooly despatching.

Jackson, Bishop, Kenlock and McGavin, who have all been training with Ipswich's U23s squad, all started alongside players from the U18s side who reached the FA Youth Cup semi-final last season.

Jackson led the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Humphries, Bishop and Nico Valentine, another new first year, behind him.

There was no Bury debut for Norwich City loan goalkeeper Sam Blair, with the season-long deal still waiting for paperwork to go through. It meant Ben Mayhew got another outing for his hometown club.

While it was a familiar Bury line-up to last season's crowd there was a potential new recruit on the bench in the shape of midfielder Ryan Auger, who has been with divisional rivals Soham Town Rangers.

Despite being the hosts, it was Bury who were wearing their change orange shirts, with Ipswich yet to release their new away kit.

It was a lively start to the game with Ipswich quickly carving out some early openings.

Joe White blocked a Bishop shot before Humphries sent Edwin Agbaje's low centre well over the crossbar.

Jackson was proving a handful for the Bury defence and he pulled the ball back well for Valentine in the seventh minute with Mayhew getting a good low hand to keep it out.

But the former Soccer AM goalkeeper could do nothing to stop the visitors opening the scoring in the eighth minute.

Jackson was again causing problems as he burst down the inside right channel before putting in a precise low cross to pick out the unchecked run of Humphries who slid the ball into the roof of the net.

Mayhew produced a good save to deny Jackson in the 11th minute, after he turned the Bury defence inside out.

Bury, who had seen some good ball early on without threatening, had their first shot in the 17th minute, but it was a wayward high and wide long-range effort from former Blues youngster Cemal Ramadan.

Soon after, Jake Chambers Shaw fired over the crossbar from just outside the area while in a similar position up the other end Bishop went close with a curling effort.

Mayhew pulled off a good low save to deny Humphries a second conversion from a Jackson cross in the 22nd minute.

Bury began to enjoy a better spell of possession and on the half-hour mark had their first shot on target, Ramadan's twisting header from a deep Will Gardner cross easily held by Ridd.

A few minutes later Ryan Jolland had saw his shot well blocked by the sliding Stewart before Chambers-Shaw's weak low effort to the goalkeeper from long-range.

There was no further chances before the half-time whistle went with Ipswich feeling they could and should have gone in with a more comfortable lead, though Bury boss Ben Chenery would have been pleased with the way they grew into it.

As was the case in Saturday's opening pre-season friendly at Dartford, it was a completely changed Ipswich Town XI which emerged for the second half, while Bury showed no switches of personnel.

The crowd enjoyed Mayhew living dangerously by doing a complete turn on the ball when put under pressure while Town's changed keeper Jack Catley rushed out of his area to clear a long pass up the other end.

The opening of the second half had lacked the intensity of the first and in the 56th minute Chenery decided it was time to freshen things up with a quadruple substitution.

On came former Ipswich captain Edwards along with Taylor Hastings, trialist Ryan Auger and Ryan Stafford with Ollie Fenn, also a former Blues academy youngster, Ramadan, Jolland and Max Maughn all departing.

The changes nearly brought a quick equaliser but Stafford saw his left-foot curling effort from the edge of the area clip the top of the crossbar following Ryan Horne's deep cross just before the hour mark.

There was no doubt Gerard Buabo should have doubled Ipswich's advantage in the 62nd minute when he broke into area with no one around him, but his blazed his effort well over.

Six minutes later, Bury made another two changes with youngsters Angus Mills and Ben Haddock replacing Olly Hughes and Ryan Horne.

Manly found the hands of Mayhew from outside the area in the 70th minute, but within a minute the home fans were celebrating an equaliser.

Chambers Shaw sent a cross-field pass over to the right for substitute Haddock and his low cross was well blocked by a covering defender before Edwards stabbed it into the net.

The young Ipswich side responded well with Fin Barbrook slamming the ball against the right-hand post on the half volley after Mayhew failed to properly claim a hanging cross.

Bury soon broke up the other end and sub Angus Mills saw his shot well blocked by a defender.

It looked Ipswich's second was set to arrive in the 79th minute but Mayhew produced a great low stop at the near post to deny Barbrook, who had been picked out unmarked.

With five minutes to go and play going from end to end, Tyrese Osbourne was found on Ipswich's left-hand side all alone but after driving inside he fired over the angle of post and bar.

Things began to get frantic heading into the final three minutes with Bury bodies blocking several shots in the area before Buabo fired over.

But with no goals following ahead of the final whistle it was announced there would be a penalty shootout to decide the outcome of the trophy.

Chambers Shaw, Mayhew, Stafford and Hastings all despatched for Bury ahead of Edwards finishing things off. Phil Moodie, Osbourne and Jesse Nwabueze had converted for Ipswich.

With so many matches having been played out in behind closed doors involving Ipswich while Bury's season was scrapped again, it provided an enjoyable night for those in attendance. But in particular, the smile on Martin Swallow's face certainly provided a priceless moment for his friends and family.

Bury Town: Mayhew, Hood, Gardner, Jolland, Fenn, White, Chambers Shaw, Horne, Hughes, Ramadan, Maughn. Used subs: Stafford, Auger, Edwards, Hastings, Haddock, Mills, Foreman.

Town first half: Ridd, Agbaje, Kenlock, McGavin, Stewart, Armin, Valentine, Chirewa, Jackson, Bishop, Humphreys.

Town second half: Catley, Cousens, Stephenson, Bradshaw, H Barbrook, Moodie, F Barbrook, Osbourne, Manly, Buabo, Nwabueze. Referee: Alan Dale. Att: 675.

Photos: Pagepix

algarvefan added 22:31 - Jul 13 Sounds like a good outing for both sides played in the right spirit. Well done Bury winning on penalties, and the trophy. Not much to learn for the first team but Paul Cook has been able to run an eye over the younger players, maybe there is a gem there somewhere???
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PinstripeBlue added 22:42 - Jul 13 What have Kayden Jackson, Teddy Bishop, Myles Kenlock and Brett McGavin done to deserve this? Not a management style I recognise. If you are manager of people this is not how to do it.
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itfchorry added 22:52 - Jul 13 That Carlos Edwards- He's taking the bus ! What a great player -
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warkie added 23:01 - Jul 13 Pinstripe. I wonder too. I don't know what's going on behind the scenes but it doesn't seem to be good manmanaging. But who am I to know? I only hope it turns out to be good for the team in the end.
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trublulax added 23:05 - Jul 13 PinstripeBlue - I quite agree. Especially McGavin. Time will tell I guess…
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BeattiesBackPocket added 23:06 - Jul 13 Pinstripe and warkie so you want players at the club who have collectively let us down or come of smiling after a home defeat to bottom teams or want to move on? I don't I want people playing for the shirt. The Swindon at home game convinced me that the crop of players past few years aren't good enough or playing for the shirt which is why most who have left have gone to smaller or league two clubs that's how good they are

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BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 23:42 - Jul 13 Well done to Bury Town. With performances like that you could get promotion from the Isthmian League North Division.
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reva added 23:46 - Jul 13 Thanks Pinstripe for your comments about man management - this is the one thing that concerns me about Cook although I don't doubt he's a good manager. But when you compare with Southgate after the shootout Sunday night - he became the father figure consoling his young England team - I wonder if the same would happen here???
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warkie added 23:51 - Jul 13 I'm a supporter so I don't want anything of what you suggest. With the total change of backroomstaff maybe some of last seasons problems lay there, and some of the players were affected by that? I don't necessarily agree about the collective laydown and I would surely not blame a league 1 player wanting a contract with a Premier league team. I'm hoping for the best but Cook hasn't convinced me yet of what his capable to do whith the players on the pitch. He seams to be good on the transfer marked so hopefully he's the right man to bring back some good times.

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Lathers added 00:20 - Jul 14 Reva - if football management was about the ability to console players after a manager's tactical ineptitude then Southgate should get a knighthood. Back to our club… and the simple reason we've been shiit for at least 4 years is because our squad have mostly been shiit hence Cook and the Gamechangers are sorting it out. Did you, Pinstripe, Warkie and Trublulax actually watch any of our games last season?

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bobble added 03:35 - Jul 14 those ex first teamers should not be allowed to wear our colours again
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Eddie1985 added 04:59 - Jul 14 Spot on from pinstripe, it's actually very sad to see these players treated this way, throwing the baby out with the bath water comes to mind. Some players needed to move on and have done to Colchester etc but there is an element of the u23 exiles you would feel have a lot to offer and can't be blamed for past problems, it's worth noting that some of them ie dozell have moved to division above and others linked with championship clubs it's unfair to have a blanket policy on those payers especially as we have Nolan in first team squad and Bishop in reserves???! Utterly perplexing

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Europablue added 07:55 - Jul 14 reva The difference is that Southgate chose his players. The mark of a bad manmanager is one who chooses the players then blames them for having a bad attitude.
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londonben added 07:56 - Jul 14 I don't think it's anything personal from PC, he just doesn't think they're good enough and I think if we're all completely honest, we would have to agree. He's made it clear to them they aren't in his plans, better that they train with the u23s and get a run out here than not at all. Jackson was useless last season, Kenlock and Bishop haven't really kicked on from promising starts and the simple fact is, they won't get anywhere near our first team next year if PC gets his targets in. I honestly think it would be worse man management to have them training with the first team now, only to be dropped from the squad come the start of the season. This way they can focus on staying fit and looking for a new club.

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Europablue added 07:58 - Jul 14 Eddie1985 I'm inclined to agree with you. I don't know what these players have been up to behind the scenes, but players like Bishop don't seem to have done much wrong apart from be part of a club and team that was poorly managed. I just want some assurances that we will be picking local lads, because even if we are in the Premier League, it won't feel special if it's just a bunch of mercenaries.

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Essexipswichboy added 08:00 - Jul 14 I agree with comments on here.....cook saying players let club down, he has been here 5 mins ....how about this club has let a lot of these players down !! Cook still not done anything yet to say he is good enough to be here Someone here said about the Swindon game ...players laughing I think you will find Wolfie was one of them !! Why has he missed all this childish crap Disgusting

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rogie_dog added 08:30 - Jul 14 I think we all need to make our minds up at Christmas. Lets see where we are in the league and what type of football we are playing.
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Garibaldi added 09:16 - Jul 14 Have we resigned Tristan Nydam???
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mathiemagic added 09:39 - Jul 14 @Lathers "If football management was about the ability to console players after a manager's tactical ineptitude then Southgate should get a knighthood" - Could not agree more. Apart from the Ukraine match we laboured to the Final with some McCarthy style football and as soon as we actually faced a good side in the Azzuri then we got the tactical "Comeuppance" his inept tactics deserved. Southgate has overseen some great "Off the field" changes in the England camp but as for getting the best out of the immense talent we now have at our national disposal he comes up short every time for me. A change is required to actually win something.

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Linkboy13 added 09:52 - Jul 14 Think you will find Italy also laboured to the final so much so that they played for penalties against Spain the best team in the tournament in my opinion in which there was no outstanding team.
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Wickets added 09:54 - Jul 14 Have any of those that are so full of criticism even read what our manager has said regarding these players ? from your comments obviously not !
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blues1 added 09:56 - Jul 14 My god. Where have some of u so called fans been the past month or so. Those players were given the opportunity, after being told to train with the u23s, to prove they wanted to be here, in which case they would be promoted back up to the 1st team squad. Dobra did that within 2 days of training starting. So clearly none of these have done the same and therefore theyve found themselves playing in this match. So whose fault is that. It's that attitude thats got them training with the u23s in the 1st place. Also the fact they werent involved against dartford is likely a reason they played in this match. As regardless of the position they are in, they still need to get some match fitness. Anyone questioning Cook clearly knows nothing.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 10:07 - Jul 14 All these players some on here bang on about being treated poorly still have a chance to come back into the fold like Dobra has but clearly cook wants to see commitment from them and the will to play for Ipswich town like dobra he hasn't sat back carried on playing football for the under 23's like they have he came back made a point and said he wanted to stay I've heard b@gger all from the others? And comparing it to Southgate is ridiculous he has a group of international players who after defeat were in tears, whilst we have a group who came off laughing after losing at home the Swindon town and finishing in our worst league position in over 60 years HUGE DIFFERENCE and if we have to explain the difference then it shows you clearly have no idea bout football or have not witnessed to poor games past few years

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bluesman added 10:13 - Jul 14 The question will be, can we afford to let the Doomed Boys go? Clearly, we're going to have a tiny squad if we do... Brilliant man management I have to say
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Radlett_blue added 10:57 - Jul 14 I hope the 22 Town players all received runner-up medals. We can add "Martin Swallow Trophy - runners up" to our honours' board. Perhaps half a star on the shirt as well?
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