DEBENHAM did themselves proud, both on and off the pitch, on a momentous night for the Suffolk club as they lost 2-0 to an Ipswich Town XI.

DEBENHAM did themselves proud, both on and off the pitch, on a momentous night for the Suffolk club as they lost 2-0 to an Ipswich Town XI.

The Hornets started by giving a young Ipswich side too much time and respect with Ed Upson controlling the midfield.

It was no surprise then that Upson was involved in the move that led to Portuguese triallist Fabio Lopes slipping the ball through the legs of Debenham keeper Louis Johnson to give the visitors the lead.

Those in the crowd who expected the floodgates to open once Ipswich had gone ahead were stunned by a Debenham fightback that should have seen the Ridgeons League side at least level by half-time.

Warren Taylor-Holt cracked a left-foot shot against the post and a minute later the same player was left cursing his luck as his deft chip came back off the bar after his initial free-kick had been blocked by the wall.

Ian Gedny's overhead effort from the rebound was cleared off the line by Troy Brown.

Gedny then had a golden opportunity when Ian McLoughlin spilled another Taylor-Holt free kick, but prodded wide. Ipswich extended their advantage 19 minutes into the second period as David Cawley's perceptive pass allowed Jamie Griffiths to coolly slot home.

Stuart Jopling went close to grabbing a consolation for Debenham when denied by the leg of the Ipswich keeper and Johnson twice produced brilliant saves in the closing stages to foil Luke Hyam and Cawley - but the home side still had plenty to celebrate.