Ipswich Town Reserves 1 Chelsea Reserves 4By Derek DavisChief Football WriterIN a game where the scoreline did not accurately reflect the mish-mash of a reserve side's performance, the Blues went down to a lively Chelsea side.

By Derek Davis

Ipswich Town Reserves 1 Chelsea Reserves 4

By Derek Davis

Chief Football Writer

IN a game where the scoreline did not accurately reflect the mish-mash of a reserve side's performance, the Blues went down to a lively Chelsea side.

Steve McCall's side produced some sparkling moments, in particular from Dean McDonald, before being worn down.

McDonald did his prospects of getting a longer-term contract with Town no harm with another sparkling display.

He caused Chelsea a raft of problems with his pace, skill and awareness and was rewarded with a 33rd-minute goal.

The former Arsenal youth player turned in a Matt Richards corner with a wonderful right-footed volley, which he guided into a corner of the net.

He might have had a couple more in the first half but Lenny Pidgeley made a good reflex save to block a left-footed shot after excellent skill by McDonald, who also hit another shot wide from 18 yards.

The Londoners fielded Finland striker Mikael Forsell, who made a substitute appearance in the Champions' League second leg at Bayern Munich last week after returning from injury.

Shefki Kuqi's international team-mate showed his quality with a Chelsea equaliser seconds before the half-time whistle when he was allowed to run along the edge of the area and get in a low left-footed shot which crept inside a post.

Forsell edged Mick McGiven's side ahead just past the hour when he slid in to reach a low Joe Tillen cross that got between Lewis Price and skipper Drissa Diallo.

The Premiership outfit made the game safe seven minutes from time when Dean Smith finished off a Filipe Oliviera cross. Danny Holiands grabbed a fourth with an exquisite angled chip from the edge of the area after finding plenty of space in the last minute.

Price, who could well be playing against Leeds on Saturday, had made a string of good saves to deny Chelsea. In the first half he got a foot to a downward header by Danny Woodards and early in the second half twice showed great agility to push away powerful drives from substitute Filipe Morais.

He stood strong to block an Oliveira shot from close range but was powerless to prevent any of the Chelsea goals.

Pidgeley, who was beaten by a Dean Bowditch hat-trick in the Championship last season while on loan with Watford, was also forced to work hard in stopping McDonald and a powerful Stuart Ainsley drive.

Danny Haynes had a penalty claim denied by Suffolk's top referee Mick Thorpe, who was forced off in the 69th minute with a hamstring pull.

A game Town side pressed throughout but faded in the last quarter of the match and stay bottom of the table.

Ipswich Town Res: Price, Flack, Richards, Beveridge, Diallo, Patten, Haynes (Atay, 54) Juan, Scowcroft, McDonald and Ainsley (Sheringham, 67). Subs not used: Supple, Haverson and Hammond.

Chelsea: Pidgeley, D Smith, S Tillen, Mancienne, Pettigrew (F Morais, 46) N Morais, Oliveira, J Smith, Forsell (Furman, 70) Holiands and Woodards (J Tillen, 50). Subs not used: Russell and Hudell.

Referee: Mick Thorpe.

Attendance: 798.