An Ipswich Town XI were held to a 1-1 draw away at Chelmsford City under the watchful gaze of new Town boss Paul Hurst, writes Liam Young.
Town took the lead in the 68th minute after a huge blunder by home keeper Ross Worner allowed forward Jack Lankester, who played the final ten minutes of Tuesday’s win at MK Dons, to walk the ball into an empty net.
The National League South did hit back late on as Rhys Murphy slammed home from the penalty spot.
It was a young Town side mainly comprised of under 23 players, but new signing Jordan Roberts featured.
Both sides struggled to create clear cut chances. The Blues could have been ahead in the opening minutes but forward Aaron Drinan dragged his shot wide of the post.
Roberts almost got on the scoresheet midway through the half, but his shot from outside the box squirted off the post, only for Ben Folomi to then see his rebound saved by the keeper’s legs.
Chelmsford had their chances too, with the best of them falling to Jai Reason ten yards out. He lacked composure and his shot comfortably cleared the bar.
The second half started off poorly too, with the home side putting the pressure on, without showing the quality to break down Ipswich’s defence.
If chances had been at a premium in the first half then they were almost non-existent in the second, with a mistake looking the most likely source of a goal.
And so it proved in the 69th minute as Worner, under no pressure, inexplicably dallied on the ball before losing his footing, to allow a grateful Lankester to walk the ball in.
Town went in search of the killer goal, but Worner redeemed himself with a fine save before the home side managed to muster a late equaliser.
Striker Murphy smashed home from the heart of the penalty area after great work from substitute Scott Fenwick set him up.
Town rallied for a last-minute surge looking for a winner, but Worner was on hand to keep his team level as the match petered out to a draw that on the balance of play was a fair result.
Town XI: Wright, Crowe (Cotter 60), Clements (Webber 60), McGavin, Marshall, Ndaba, Folami, McLoughlin (El Mizouni 60), Drinan, Lankester, Roberts (McKendry 60). Unused: Ware, K Brown, Dobra, Akongo.
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