Ipswich Town were comfortable throughout as they showed real control to secure a 2-0 victory in their televised clash with Exeter City.
Freddie Ladapo’s goal on 11 minutes put the Blues in control of the contest early on, before Marcus Harness met a Leif Davis header on 68 to wrap things up on an afternoon where the visitors controlled much of the game and limited their hosts to very little in the final third.
Even when the hosts looked to open things up in the second period by bringing on extra forwards, Ipswich kept their cool and stood firm at the back while continuing to offer a threat of their own in the final third.
There were no further goals but the job was done.
Victory in today’s early kick-off moves second-placed Town to within a point of leaders Plymouth Argyle, who play Burton Albion this afternoon on a weekend where there is a full slate of League One games as the World Cup kicks off in Qatar tomorrow.
Next up for Ipswich is Tuesday’s Papa John’s Trophy game with Portsmouth before Buxton visit in the FA Cup on Sunday evening.
Then it’s Fleetwood in League One on Friday, December 2.
Town boss Kieran McKenna made one change to his side following last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Cheltenham
The Northern Irishman brought Cameron Burgess back into the side for the televised clash, with George Edmundson dropping to the bench, while Gassan Ahadme returned to the bench for the first time since suffering a foot fracture in September.
Neither side managed to get on top of the game inside the opening 10 minutes, with some neat spells of possession resulting in little pressure on the two goals, but the Blues were soon in control.
The first big moment for Ipswich saw Marcus Harness meet Conor Chaplin’s ball into the box but then lacking conviction as he poked towards goal, with Jamal Blackman able to save, but the Blues were soon ahead.
In many ways the opening goal was an extremely simple one, as skipper Sam Morsy found Harness in a few yards of space inside the box, with the attacker then able to calmly nod across to Ladapo, who in turn stooped to guide the ball home with a header of his own.
Town were enjoying a period of domination during the middle period of the half, moving the ball around well and looking to work openings, but weren’t able to test Blackman any further before the hosts began to create some chances of their own.
The first came from a corner, following good work down the Exeter right, which resulting in Christian Walton needing to push Alex Hartridge’s hooked effort round the post, before Jack Sparkes let fly from range and sent his shot over the top of the bar.
Both sides took a break as Cameron Humphreys received treatment in the middle of the pitch, after taking a knock, but was good to carry on as the game drifted towards half-time with little more action.
Town remained in control as the second half began, working Exeter from side to side, before young midfielder Humphreys forced Blackman into a finger-tip save, as he shot from the edge of the box.
The visitors were moving up through the gears, with Morsy splitting the Exeter defence with a ball which ultimately saw Ladapo force a good save from Blackman, as he connected with a Leif Davis cross.
Exeter responded to Town’s increase in dominance by introducing forward Sam Nombe, in place of midfielder Harry Kite, with McKenna turning to his bench for the first time to replace Chaplin with Kyle Edwards.
Then, the second goal, as Donacien won a corner from which Harness headed in Leif Davis’s whipped delivery to surely make the game safe.
There was concern as Davis left the game with what looked like a hamstring injury on 75 minutes, with Kane Vincent-Young replacing him.
But while that may be an issue for Ipswich down the road, they were able to see out the rest of this contest with little trouble as late Exeter pressure was repelled.
Exeter City: Blackman, Caprice, Key (Diabate, 75), Sweeney, Hartridge, Sparkes (Jay, 79), Collins, Dieng, Kite (Nombe, 62), Brown, Stansfield
Subs: Lee, Grounds, Beardmore, Chauke
Booked: Sparkes (45+1)
Ipswich Town: Walton; Donacien, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis (Vincent-Young, 74); Morsy, Humphreys, Burns (Jackson, 90), Chaplin (Edwards, 65), Harness; Ladapo (Ahadme, 90)
Subs: Hladky, Edmundson, Camara
Booked: Harness (86), Burns (90)
Att: 7,232 (1,208 Ipswich fans)
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