Ipswich Town U21 v Middlesbrough U21 23.01.2024 | Bloomfields NMFC. U21 Premier League Cup Group H Matchday 5/6. Ipswich Town:- 1 Woody Williamson, 2 Edwin Agbaje, 3 Harry Barbrook, 4 Jakub Mazionis, 5 Daniel O'Connor (77' Jambang), 6 Ryan Carr, 7 Jesse Nwabueze (66' Morgan) , 8 Emmanuel Okunowo, 9 Gérard Buabo (HT' Boatswain), 10 Matty Roberts, 11 Leon Ayinde (75' Taylor). Subs: 12 Ayubba Jambang, 31 Charlie Binns (GK), 14 Tommy Taylor, 15 Rio Morgan, 16 Ashley Boatswain. Town Booked: Harry Barbrook (48'), Edwin Agbaje (62'), Rio Morgan (75'). Goals: Jesse Nwabueze (16'), Ash Boatswain (78').

Ipswich Town U21s move to second in Group H of the U21 Premier League Cup following a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough at Bloomfields. 

Town started brightly, with Jesse Nwabueze's right wing cross finding Gérard Buabo free in the centre whose point blank range header was glanced straight at goalkeeper Nathan Fisher in the 2nd minute. 

Matty Roberts then fired a low shot across goal, from the edge of the box, albeit Fisher, diving low smartly to his right-hand side, held onto it comfortably after 4 minutes. 

Town then saw a shot cannoned wide off a defender for a corner on 6 minutes, while the young Blues looked to make their possession and chances count as a fierce shot from the edge of the box was again blocked away two minutes later. 

Middlesbrough though had their first chance of the night, and one of few on target for the away side on 13 minutes, the visitors intercepted a pass midway through Town's half, however good pressure from Woody Williamson off his line prevented a shot, though the ball was cutback to Yacou Traore further out whose low shot towards the left hand corner was headed off the line well by the well placed defender.

Boro then whizzed a free kick from 25-yards out, on the left, just off target of the far post a minute later, while Town took the lead - arguably deservedly - on 16 minutes. Jesse Nwabueze was found free on the right hand edge of the box before smartly, and essentially effortlessly, smashing home into the bottom near corner, 1-0 Ipswich. 

Town quickly had the chance to double their lead two minutes later, after Gérard Buabo drove through past the defenders down the left hand side before being taken down from behind. Leon Ayinde stepped up, but saw his fierce low penalty well held by the diving Fisher down just to his left hand side as the scoreline remained 1-0 after 19 minutes. 

Matty Roberts then looked to test Fisher on 22 minutes, the Town midfielder was fed free onto the left hand edge of the box, whose curling shot towards the bottom near corner was well held by the diving keeper. 

Town did have the ball in the net on 27 minutes, but was quickly flagged for offside. A great ball out onto the left hand side of the box found an offside Blue shirt as the low driven ball across the six yard box was tapped in by Buabo. 

Leon Ayinde was next to try his luck at goal for Town, the winger was fed through smartly onto the left wing before driving into the box, though his 44th minute ferocious tight angles strike at the near post stung the hands of Fisher, who gathered at the second attempt. 

Town also had the last chance of the first half, Harry Barbrook was fed through onto the left wing befored delivering a great pinpoint cross for Emmanuel Okunowo, but the latter's chested effort at goal, from point blank range, lacked any real power to beat Fisher, who gathered the ball. 

Boro however had the more of the possession in the second half, but didn't trouble Woody Williamson much in the Town goal. Calum Kavanagh though did force a good save from the Town shot-stopper on 47 minutes, with the stopper down smartly and quickly to beat away the forward's fierce shot from just outside the box towards the bottom right hand corner. 

Terrell Agyemang then picked up possession on the left hand edge of the Town box, but smashed his shot narrowly wide of the bottom far corner on 61 minutes. 

Boro continued to work an equaliser but to no avail, whipping a 74th minute freekick from a dangerous position, on the left hand edge of the box, over the crossbar, while Town wrapped up the 3 points, leapfrogging their opponents to move from 4th to 2nd with 7 points, on 78 minutes. Substitute Ash Boatswain raced onto the end of a great long ball over the top ahead of two defenders before baring down on goal, one on one - driving into the box, and smashing home smartly, despite a touch off Fisher's outstretched arm, into the bottom left hand corner. 

Albeit with a Professional Development fixture (away to Colchester United on Friday) in between, Town wrap up their U21 PL Cup group fixtures with a home clash against group leaders Crystal Palace at Bloomfields on Monday 5th February (7pm).

Ipswich Town:- 1 Woody Williamson, 2 Edwin Agbaje, 3 Harry Barbrook, 4 Jakub Mazionis, 5 Daniel O'Connor (77' Jambang), 6 Ryan Carr, 7 Jesse Nwabueze (66' Morgan) , 8 Emmanuel Okunowo, 9 Gérard Buabo (HT' Boatswain), 10 Matty Roberts, 11 Leon Ayinde (75' Taylor). Subs: 12 Ayubba Jambang, 31 Charlie Binns (GK), 14 Tommy Taylor, 15 Rio Morgan, 16 Ashley Boatswain. 

Town Booked: Harry Barbrook (48'), Edwin Agbaje (62'), Rio Morgan (75'). Goals: Jesse Nwabueze (16'), Ash Boatswain (78').

Middlesbrough:- 1 Nathan Fisher, 2 Frankie Whelan, 3 Ben Beals (HT' James), 4 Yacou Traore (81' Popple), 5 Jack Hannah, 6 Afonso Lindo, 7 Max Howells, 8 Terrell Agyemang, 9 Calum Kavanagh, 10 Sam Collins (36' John), 11 George McCormack (81' Matthews). Subs: 12 Fenton John, 13 Oliver Samuels (GK), 14 Ajay Matthews, 15 Dan James, 16 Henry Popple. 

Middlesbrough Booked: Ben Beals (18'), Yacou Traore (24'), Fenton John (62'), Frankie Whelan (68'), Afonso Lindo (69'). 

Ipswich Town U21 v Birmingham City U21 | Premier League Cup | 18.09.2023 | Bloomfields, Needham Market F.C. |

Ipswich Town Under-21's return to Premier League Cup action after a five year absence commenced with a competitive 0-0 draw with their Birmingham City counterparts at Needham Market F.C.'s Bloomfields.

With chances arriving at both ends in each half a point piece was arguably a fair reflection of the game with neither goalkeeper tested greatly during the contest.

Birmingham City, managed by ex-professional Steve Spooner, started the brighter and looked to be on top, while Town, managed by ex-Town player John McGreal, arguably played the better football in the opening forty-five minutes.

Town shot-stopper Woody Williamson however was forced into a good early save after 8 minutes, the visitors found space to shoot on the left-hand edge of the box towards Williamson's bottom far corner, but the 'keeper was alert to quickly launch across to beat away the fierce strike.

A combination of the crossbar and Williamson then thwarted Birmingham five minutes later, Morgan Dance was released through one on one with the stopper, on the left-hand side of the box, whose ferocious strike rattled off the top off the crossbar, dropping down dangerously in front of goal with Williamson on hand to bravely and heroically fly across and punch it behind his top right-hand corner, for a Birmingham corner. 

Town meanwhile saw a left-hand byline cross shot flash just past the top far corner on 17 minutes, before Ashley Boatswain shot just over the crossbar from the left-hand side on 25 minutes.

Town then tested the City keeper soon after, as Leon Ayinde curled a great low shot towards the bottom far, right-hand, corner, drawing a fine low save from goalkeeper Bradley Mayo to parry it behind for a corner on 27 minutes.

At the other end moments later, Ben Beresford - albeit offside anyway - drew a good close range low diving save from Williamson to parry it wide, while Morgan Dance had the last chance of the half for the visitors on 31 minutes. The latter was fed possession to shot only for his shot to be deflected just wide of the top right-hand corner, for a Birmingham corner.

The second half started similarly to the first with Birmingham starting brighter, though Town did grow into proceedings midway through the half with Town having a penalty saved inside the final 20 minutes of the game.

As time progressed the encounter looked more increasingly likely to remain goalless, though Birmingham smartly broke through onto the left-hand byline inside the box before seeing a close range shot curled just wide of the top far corner by a defender on 52 minutes.

Matt Ward on the other hand forced a good save from Mayo seven minutes later, the right winger raced through onto the wing-edge of the box before seeing his ferocious low angled strike towards the bottom near corner beaten behind well by the keeper.

While clear cut efforts on goal were few and far between, it was still an entertaining contest with Ayuuba Jambang curling a fierce strike agonisingly just wide of the top far, right-hand, corner on 66 minutes.

Five minutes later, Town were then awarded a penalty which Osman Foyo stepped up to take, a minute later, only to go more for placement than power with Mayo reading it well to dive across low to his right hand side and beat it behind for a corner. 

Rapid Town substitute Nico Valentine then fired a good low, tight angled, well hit strike from the edge of the box just wide of the bottom near, left-hand, corner on 75 minutes, before a great surging run onto the left-hand side of the box from Town a minute later teed up Osman Foyo whose shot just inside the box went over the bar.

Birmingham's Sahid Kamara on the other hand forced a good save from Williamson on 82 minutes, the substitute found space to shoot on the right-hand edge of the box whose powerful low strike was shovelled behind for a corner well by the keeper at his bottom near corner. The resulting corner, a minute later, though was headed just over onto the roof of the net.

With a draw looming, Town had a late 90+6th minute chance to snatch all three points as captain Finley Barbrook's shot was smashed wide into the bottom near, right-hand, side-netting.

The final whistle soon followed as both sides recorded a fair point apiece. 

Ipswich Town: 1 Woody Williamson, 2 Ayuuba Jambang, 3 Harry Barbrook, 4 Jakub Mazionis, 5 Daniel O'Connor (HT' Lavin), 6 Finley Barbrook (c), 7 Matt Ward, 8 Emmanuel Okunowo, 9 Ashley Boatswain (55' Roberts), 10 Osman Foyo, 11 Leon Ayinde (63' Valentine). Subs: 12 Ben Haddoch, 13 Henry Gray (GK), 14 Michel Lavin, 15 Nico Valentine, 16 Mathaeus Roberts. 

Birmingham City:- 1 Bradley Mayo, 20 Zachary Willis, 27 Rico Browne,4 Tommy Fogarty. 3 Femi Olofinjana (88' Farnie), 7 Josh Horne (c), 8 O'Shea Ellis, 21 Rico Patterson, 10 Harley Hamilton (61' Kamara), 19 Morgan Dance (75' Sullivan), 9 Ben Beresford (75' Tattum). Subs: 13 Oliver Sayer (GK), 5 Laith Farnie, 15 Callum Sullivan, 11 Sahid Kamara, 17 Frank Tattum. 

Booked: Osman Foyo (41'), Josh Horne (68'), Rico Browne (70'), Matty Roberts (85'), Matt Ward (86'), O'Shea Ellis (89"), F.Barbrook (90'+4').

Ipswich Town Women v Charlton Athletic Women | 14.01.2024 | AGL Arena, Dellwood Avenue, Felixstowe | Adobe Women's FA Cup R4 | Tier 3 v Tier 2 |

Higher league Charlton Athletic Women advance to the next round of the Adobe Women's FA Cup following a 4-1 win at Ipswich Town. 

The Addicks, who are second in the Women's Championship, were made to work hard for their victory against a strong battling performance from the Tractor Girls, who lead for the majority of the first half. 

However, mistakes quickly saw the away side go into the break 3-1 up having cancelled out Sophie Peskett's 8th minute surging run and empathic finish, following a mistake after good pressure from Natasha Thomas, in the 36th minute.

Both sides brought in players on loan from WSL sides in the week leading up to the tie, with young Spurs duo 

Milly Boughton & Elkie Bowyer featuring as substitutes for Town, while on-loan West Ham midfielder Fillis likewise came off the bench for the visitors. With Poopy Soper on loan from Charlton, Joe Sheehan opted for Laura Hartley in goal, with captain Maria Boswell at centre-back alongside Leah Mitchell. Maisy Barker started at right-back, Summer Hughes at left back and Kyra Robertson and Lucy O'Brien in centre midfield. Sophie Peskett, Ruby Doe and Lenna Gunning-Williams, on-loan from WSL side Arsenal, made up the attack behind Natasha Thomas. Charlton had experienced WSL players Sian Rogers and Kate Longhurst on the bench, the latter notably won the top division in English football twice with Liverpool - having also been at West Ham among others. Freya Godfrey, another WSL loanee, also made her return to Ipswich - having played for Town on loan last season - in the Charlton starting eleven. 

Sophie O'Rourke though had the first chance for the visitors in the 4th minute, albeit her fierce shot on the edge of the box was bravely blocked and cleared by Lucy O'Brien. 

Town though broke the deadlock four minutes later, good pressure from Natasha Thomas saw Sophie Peskett pounce onto a poor pass before driving through the majority of the visitors half, leaving defenders in her wake before drawing Gray off her line to expertly fire home ice cold into the net, 1-0 Town. 

At the other end, Town keeper Laura Hartley was forced into her first save of the afternoon in the 12th minute of the hard fought encounter, albeit it was straight forward for the shot-stopper. The first corner of the afternoon saw the Addicks' right wing set-piece find a free head at the near post but the close range effort was easily held by the keeper at her near post. 

Charlton meanwhile then let a great chance go begging two minutes later, Carla Humphrey fed Freda Ayisi through onto the right hand side, though the latter could only shoot wide. 

Great play from Town however forced a good save from Jessica Gray on 18 minutes, Kyra Robertson won back possession well on the halfway line before threading Lenna Gunning-Williams racing thro ugh down the right wing, the winger burst through the Charlton half but saw her fierce low shot, across goal, take a slight deflection off O'Rourke for a good reaction, yet fairly comfortable, save for Gray. 

Carla Humphrey then looked to test Laura Hartley two minutes later, but saw her fierce first time volleyed shot from the edge of the box comfortably held by the well placed goalkeeper. 

Town continued to hold their own against their higher league opponents, who did have the more of the ball and the chances, as Freya Godfrey drove through onto the right hand side of the box in the 21st minute, but a superb challenge from Leah Mitchell tracking back prevented a clear shot on goal. 

Hartley was then on hand to dive down to her right to deny Charlton at the expense of a corner on 22 minutes, while Carla Humphrey went close to drawing the away side back on level terms with an exquisite free-kick 11 minutes later. 

After a foul 30-yards out from Town's goal on the left hand side, the Charlton midfielder's clever effort curled over the wall and looked to be creeping in until it went just wide into the near side netting. 

Charlton though equalised on 36 minutes, a long ball across to the left wing was inadvertently headed across the box by a Town player for Mel Johnson in acres of space to finish smartly into the empty net. 

Charlton soon took the lead five minutes later, Johnson again in the right place at the right time for the away side to head home after Hartley's punch from a right wing corner saw a header cleared off the line straight to the Charlton forward. 

A minute into first half stoppage time Charlton were then given the chance to go into the break with a bit of breathing space after Angela Addison went down from an outstretched leg on the left hand side. Up-stepped Freya Godfrey, who confidently dispatched the spot-kick, waiting for Hartley to dive to her right before slotting into the opposite right-hand corner. 

Town though looked to grab a goal back in the fourth added minute, but Gray was alert to come off her line and claim a smart Maria Boswell right wing corner ahead of Natasha Thomas from just outside the six yard box. 

The second half saw very little goalmouth action with both teams battling hard, though arguably the damage had already been done towards the end of the first half. 

Twenty-five seconds after the restart though, Mel Johnson - albeit flagged for offside - was threaded through free onto the right hand side of the Town box but saw her low shot smothered superbly by Hartley - who reacted superbly and acrobatically to deny the rebound effort just as the whistle blew. 

Both sides had spells of possession, but neither side could consistently create any chances of real note, albeit Charlton were able to a few times. The first saw Bethan Roe swing a left wing corner directly just over onto the roof of the net on 64 minutes, while Mel Johnson was offside once more as Hartley sprung off her line well to smother her shot three minutes later. 

As the cup tie drew to a close, in front of a very healthy crowd of 770 at Felixstowe + Walton United's AGL Arena, Charlton wrapped up their passage through to the fifth round on 74 minutes. substitute Ella Rutherford clipped a great right hand 30-yard free kick across to the far post for Elisha N'Dow sliding in right at the far post to guide home. 

N'Dow then looked to benefit from another well taken set-piece eight minutes later, connecting with a left wing corner from point blank range, but could only glance it wide of the far right hand post. 

Rutherford then tried her luck at goal on 84 minutes, but fired a 25-yard strike straight at Hartley, who held well at head height as the FA Cup journey drew to a close for Town. 

Town, who sit fifth - albeit with games in hand on all teams around them - in the FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division, travel to London Bees on Sunday. 

Ipswich Town:- 31 Laura Hartley, 21 Maisy Barker, 2 Maria Boswell (c), 6 Leah Mitchell, 3 Summer Hughes, 8 Kyra Robertson, 11 Lucy O'Brien (79' Bowyer), 19 Lenna Gunning-Williams (75' Boughton), 18 Ruby Doe (79' Horwood), 17 Sophie Peskett (75' Bryant), 7 Natasha Thomas (90' Turner). Subs: 12 Issy Bryant, 5 Bonnie Horwood, 9 Holly Turner, 13 Nina Meollo (GK), 15 Nia Evans, 23 Abbie Smith, 16 Elkie Bowyer, 14 Milly Boughton. 

Charlton Athletic:- 12 Jessica Gray, 22 Bethan Roe, 5 Elisha N'Dow, 17 Kiera Skeels (c), 21 Sophie O'Rourke, 20 Mary Bashford (58' Longhurst), 8 Carla Humphrey (58' Filis), 7 Angela Addison (71', McGowan), 9 Freda Ayisi (57' Rutherford), 14 Freya Godfrey (71' Muya), 6 Mel Johnson. Subs: 1 Sian Rogers (gk), 2 Rebecca McKenna, 4 Mia Ross, 10 Kate Longhirst, 11 Tegan McGowan, 16 Karin Muya, 19 Ella Rutherford, 27 Melisa Filis, 26 Gracie Pearse. 

 

Booked: Barker (72'), N'Dow (90').

Goals: Sophie Peskett (8'); 6 Mel Johnson (36', 41'), 14 Freya Godfrey (45'+2'pen), C5 Elisha N'Dow (74'). Att 770.