FORMER Real Madrid star Iván Campo had a less than glorious first game in an Ipswich Town shirt.

Football Combination Reserve League

Ipswich Town Reserves: 3 Peterborough Utd Reserves: 1

FORMER Real Madrid star Iván Campo had a less than glorious first game in an Ipswich Town shirt

Campo was involved in a first minute mix up with keeper Shane Supple that allowed Liam Hatch to give the Posh an early lead.

After not playing at all during the close season, and having just a week with fitness coach Simon Thadani, Campo was clearly short of match fitness and made a couple of basic errors early on but showed his class as the game wore on.

He fitted in at centre half, where he won a Champions' League medal with Real Madrid, played 70 minutes alongside Tommy Smith before being replaced by Paul Watson.

Jai Reason playing the midfield holding role Campo played in the Premier League with Bolton, and did a good job.

He, with the impressive Ed Upson in the middle, helped Town settle down and get a slight edge in a tight match,

The reigning champions fought back to start the new campaign with a victory with goals from Reggie Lambe and Kurt Robinson, before Jordan Rhodes made it three late on.

They were among a handful of Town players without first team experience but are a good example of what is coming through from the academy.

Bermuda international Lambe equalised on 13 minutes with a side foot finish from six yards after some not so clever defending from United.

Kurt Robinson pounced on a poor clearance and hit a pearler of a left foot drive from almost 30 yards out to equalise on the stroke of half-time.

Jaime Peters had another game at right back but was taken off at half-time. Whether that was because he took a blow to the head earlier or Jim Magilton is looking to spring another selection surprise on Saturday we will find out when Wolves visit.

Clear chances were limited but in the first half Rhodes put in Bowditch who had a decent first touch but could not bend ball enough and it curled wide.

Rhodes brought out a good save from James McKeown in the second half before finally getting the goal he deserved with a cool finish in a one-on one past the keeper to give Chris Kiwomya's second string victory.

Cheeky Posh tried to make a fourth substitution when they had a player hurt but the fourth official spotted the attempt.

Ipswich Town Res: Supple; Peters (Hyam, 70) Campo (Watson, 70) Smith, Balkestein; Lambe, Reason, Upson, Robinson (Ainsley, 84): Bowditch, Rhodes. Subs: Wickham, Ward.

Peterborough United Res: McKeown; Reed, Charnock (Gaughran, 46) Gourlay, Day (Andrews, 70); Batt, Coutts, Crook (Webb, 84) Whelpdale; Hatch, Rendall. Subs not used: Lyons, Abrahams.

Referee: Mr J Hopkins

Attendance: 723