Town's reserves will think themselves unfortunate to have been beaten 1-0 by West Ham, having had a goal harshly disallowed and a blatant penalty turned down before new Hammers signing Sebastien Carole netted the winner in the 72nd minute.

Both sides included a number of players with experience, Pablo Couñago, Georges Santos, Chris Bart-Williams and Martijn Reuser all in the Town starting line-up. Dean Bowditch was missing having been with the England U19 squad which beat Holland 2-0 on Tuesday night.

West Ham fielded Rob Lee, Steve Lomas, Anton Ferdinand and ex-Wimbledon pair Jobi McAnuff and Adam Nowland.

The first chance of the game fell to one of the Town youngsters, reserves captain Scott Mitchell. His 20-yard right-foot drive was well saved by West Ham keeper David Forde after good work on the edge of the box from Couñago.

The Blues had most of the early pressure but almost conceded a goal on the break from one of their own corners. Bart-Williams headed back to last man Alfie Kamara on halfway, but the former Arsenal youngster lost out to Adam Nowland.

The recent signing from Wimbledon found himself one-on-one with Price but rushed his shot as Scott Barron started to put him under pressure, and Price tipped his shot round the post.

Chances were far and few between but on the half hour Couñago put Reuser through on the keeper but the Dutchman struck his left-footed shot straight at Hammers' number one Forde.

Defender Georges Santos picked up a booking jut before the break for a foul inside the centre circle on Hammers' striker Greg Pearson.

Town thought they had the lead just after the break. Bart-Williams, running the game from his deep midfield role, found Mitchell on the right, the youngster crossing to the far post where Sam Morrow nodded home. Unfortunately for Town referee Miller felt Morrow had pushed a defender and disallowed what appeared to most to be a perfectly legitimate goal.

Two minutes later Morrow came close to netting in almost identical circumstances. Mitchell once again crossed, but this time the Northern Irishman failed to connect properly and the ball flashed across the face of goal.

Referee Miller was again the anti-hero just before the hour. The impressive Alfie Kamara made a tricky run in from the right before taking the ball past Rob Lee inside the area, the former England international catching him and sending him to the turf. Again Mr Miller ruled against the Blues who were becoming increasingly frustrated.

Despite Town having controlled the game throughout, they almost went behind in the 68th minute. Jobi McAnuff found himself in space well inside the area but Lewis Price saved excellently down to his left.

Boss Steve McCall gave Ben Patten and Jerome Sobers, the new signings from Ford United, the last 20 minutes of the game.

Soon after, with Town reorganising West Ham scored. McAnuff crossed from the right, Pearson flicked on at the near post and Sebastien Carole tapped home.

The goal was harsh on Town given the overall balance of play, although the visitors had more of the game in the latter stages.

A rare Couñago-Reuser combination gave the Dutchman an opportunity to shoot on goal on 76 but he mis-hit his effort and Forde had little trouble in gathering.

Referee Miller again annoyed Town when he harshly adjudged Couñago to have fouled Anton Ferdinand as the Spaniard broke away goalwards.

Town had the majority of the game without really creating too many chances, although they can feel aggrieved that Morrow's goal was ruled out and the penalty appeal was turned down.

Chris Bart-Williams was the pick of the senior players on show, playing his usual tidy, controlling if unspectacular game at the centre of midfield.

At the back Santos and Collins formed a partnership which allowed the visitors few chances, although the tackle which led to the Frenchman's booking was a touch clumsy.

Reuser had a quiet game at the centre of the midfield, but even then could have grabbed a goal, while Couñago showed a couple of flashes of his best but had a mainly frustrating evening.

New men Sobers and Patten replaced Santos and Collins for the last 20 minutes of the game, and the switch might be blamed for West Ham's goal which came two minutes later.

Sobers, looking like a taller, leaner Titus Bramble, brought the ball forward calmly on a couple of occasions, tackled well and made a number of decent passes.

Patten, less of a physical presence than his former Ford team-mate although by no means a lighteight, made a couple of challenges and played one excellent ball out of defence forward to Couñago on the halfway line. Both looked far from out of place.

Town: Price, Mitchell, Barron, Boardley, Collins (Patten 70), Santos (Sobers 70), Reuser Kamara, Couñago, Morrow, Bart-Williams (Flack 64).

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls