Town's Reserves lost 2-0 to Tottenham at Stevenage on Monday night. The Blues again fielded a young team, with Lewis Price missing through a groin injury. Pablo Couñago and Matt Richards were the only players with more than a few minutes' first team experience.

In just the second minute, Spurs took the lead. Johnnie Jackson attacked a cross from Mark Yeates, and the Town defence only half-cleared, the ball falling to Silva Sousa who half-volleyed it into the top corner from just inside the area.

On 10 minutes, Spurs striker Jamie Slabber attempted an audacious volley from all of 25 yards out, and fortunately for Town, the ball ended up nearer the corner flag than the goal!

Three minutes later, former Town defender Mauricio Taricco played in youngster Andy Barcham, who fizzed the ball across the Town area, and Jackson, Silva Sousa and Slabber all got in each other's way, and the ball was cleared.

On 17 minutes, Taricco was robbed in the centre of midfield, and a good early pass presented Spaniard Pablo Couñago with an opportunity, but good defending from Rodrigo Defendi forced him to shoot over.

In the 22nd minute, Spurs grabbed their second goal. Mark Hughes played Andy Barcham inside Liam Craig, and Barcham hit the ball across goal, and Jamie Slabber beat a Town defender to the ball and slid in to make it 2-0.

On 35, Town almost got a goal back after Chris Hogg fired a free-kick just wide from 25 yards.

Three minutes before half-time, and Town had another chance to reduce the arreas. Pablo Couñago broke into the box and cut the ball back for Antonio Murray to shoot, but Defendi blocked for Spurs.

On 44, good work from Liam Craig created space for himself and he crossed the ball in for Darryl Knights. The young striker only needed to make the slightest of touches on the ball, but he didn't and Marcel McKie cleared.

Johnnie Jackson crossed in a dangerous free-kick on 53, Defendi rising highest, but he glanced the ball wide from six yards.

Six minutes later, and Richard Eyre was forced into a decent save after Couñago had found a yard inside the Spurs area.

On 63 minutes, Couñago broke through the Spurs backline again, but he failed to hit the target from a tight angle.

Not long after, Hughes fed Barcham on the right-hand side and Barcham's pace took him past the Town defence, his shot forcing Shane Supple into a decent save.

Two minutes later, Taricco's long throw caught out Aidan Collins, and Yeates was away. He squared the ball to Barcham who cut onto his left-foot, and forced Supple into another fine save.

On 82 minutes, Counago laid the ball back for Chris Hogg to strike from 15 yards, but three Spurs defenders came and closed him down.

Spurs: Nicky Eyre, Mauricio Taricco, Marcel McKie, Paul O'Donoghue (Kieran McKenna 68), Rodrigo Defendi, Mark Hughes, Johnnie Jackson, Andy Barcham (Jamie O'Hara 89), Mark Yeates, Silva Sousa (Owen Price 78) and Jamie Slabber. Unused subs: Tommy Forecast (GK) and Michael Malcolm.

Ipswich: Shane Supple, Adem Atay, Liam Craig, Scott Mitchell, Aidan Collins, Chris Hogg, Antonio Murray (Billy Clarke 70), Liam Manning, Pablo Couñago, Darryl Knights and Matt Richards. Unused subs: Daniel Flack, Ben Patten, Michael Synnott and Owen Garvan.

Report: James Ager

Photo: Action Images

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