Town's disappointing 2005/06 came to a close with a 2-1 defeat at Plymouth and ended the season in 15th position, their lowest finish since 1965/66. Nicky Forster put the Blues ahead but the Pilgrims struck back through Tony Capaldi and then grabbed a second half winner via Micky Evans.

Jaime Peters made his first start since September wide on the right in a five-man midfield. Ian Westlake returned from his ankle injury to form a central midfield trio with Owen Garvan and Vemund Brekke Skard, making his second start for the Blues, with Darren Currie on the left.

Nicky Forster played the lone striker's role with Chris Casement at right-back, Jay McEveley on the left and new skipper Jason De Vos alongside Richard Naylor at the centre of the defence. For Plymouth, Micky Evans was playing his final game after two spells totalling 11 years with the Home Park club.

Plymouth started brightly and in the fourth minute Akos Buzsaky shot wide. David Norris, presented with the Piligims' Player of the Year award before the game, hit a sharp shot on the turn on eight but sent the ball over the bar.

Town's first chance came on 11, Nicky Forster spinning on the edge of the box, his shot taking a deflection and going wide.

A minute later the Blues were in front. A loose ball deflected into the path of Chris Casement down the right, the young Northern Irishman sending in an inch-perfect cross which Nicky Forster headed down and into the net off the cross-bar for his seventh goal of the season and his fourth in four games, confirming the summer free signing from Reading as Town's top scorer.

The goal was somewhat against the run of play with the home team's very direct approach — mainly long kicks from keeper Romain Larrieu aimed at Evans and Vincent Pericard — causing Naylor and particularly De Vos and McEveley problems.

Plymouth got back on terms in the 28th minute when Evans got away from De Vos and headed a ball across the penalty area. No Town defender managed to clear the awkward bouncing ball and Northern Irish international Capaldi fired home through Casement's legs.

Supple saved Evans's edge of the area effort when the striker might have troubled him more, then Nicky Forster shot into the sidenetting from a tight angle on the left seeing no options in the penalty area.

On 38 McEveley made an error on the left allowing Norris to cross. Richard Naylor managed only a faint touch but did enough to weaken Capaldi's strike and Supple saved. Not long before the break, Lilian Nalis was yellow-carded for a foul on Ian Westlake.

The scoreline of 1-1 at the break wasn't too far from being a fair reflection of the half as a whole, although Plymouth will have felt they had had much the better of the chances. Once again the Blues had shown frailties at the back, while the Pilgrims rarely gave the Town midfield time to settle into their rhythm.

The Blues were close to a goal soon after the break, Ian Westlake teeing up Darren Currie but the former Pilgrim, largely ignored by his old fans, had strayed into an offside position, and in any case shot wide.

Richard Naylor and Jason De Vos picked up yellow cards in swift succession for fouls, prior to Sam Parkin making his return after his lengthy absence with a broken ankle for Vemund Brekke Skard. As at Watford, the game went on largely around the Norwegian who looks like he has some way to go before settling into English football.

Just before the hour, the home side went in front. Capaldi was fouled by Casement on the left and took the freekick himself, Pericard flicking the ball on and the unmarked Evans heading home in his final game for the Pilgrims. The home side's players, including keeper Larrieu, celebrated long and hard while their Town counterparts waited to get on with the match.

The Blues had failed to get going to any extent in the second half and, after Supple had saved a Capaldi header, the disappointing Owen Garvan was replaced with Jim Magilton, playing his 315th and last game for the Blues, one more than previous skipper Matt Holland.

Supple made his best save of the game in the 61st minute when he rushed out to block from Evans after the veteran striker had got away beyond the Town defence.

Nicky Forster sent in a low cross from a dangerous position on the left but the ball was cleared, before Pericard shot wide, Naylor having completely missed a ball a few yards outside the area.

Sam Parkin ought to have put the Blues on terms on 76. Currie hit a shot from a freekick on the left, Larrieu failed to hold on and the ball dropped to Parkin five yards out. The former Swindon man was unable to get over the ball and sent it over the bar.

Plymouth made a triple substitution in the 78th minute, Evans making his way off the field to a standing ovation from all sections of the crowd and with his team-mates once again somewhat overdoing the back-slaps.

Liam Trotter became the 19th player to make his Town debut this season in the 80th minute, the 17-year-old taking over from Ian Westlake.

At the final whistle the departing Magilton threw his shirt to the crowd as did Currie, Price and De Vos. The Blues had once again been second best to a side which they will have to beat to get anywhere next season's target of promotion, Town rarely creating a chance and looking highly suspect when facing the type of aerial assault likely to be repeated on a number of occasions next term.

A season which seemed not to have an end is finally over after a year which few will remember fondly.

It was always going to be a tricky season after the mass exodus last summer and with money still tight. The period of good form after Christmas, the blooding of so many youngsters and the derby win at Carrow Road have been the few highlights of a year which has seen the Blues equal their 15th position in 1965/66, Bill McGarry's first full season in charge.

John Lyall's 14th place in 1990/91 was the most recent finish in the lower half of the old Second Division/Championship, with the next season seeing the Blues win promotion to the inaugural Premier League. After Town's woeful end to the season fans will be hoping rather than expecting history to repeat itself in 2006/07.

Town: Supple, Casement, McEveley, Naylor, De Vos, Garvan (Magilton 60), Westlake (Trotter 80), Skard (Parkin 53), Currie, Peters, Forster. Unused: Price, Krause. Att: 15,921.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls