FORMER Ipswich Town Academy player Ollie Fenn came back to his haunt his former club at Bloomfields last night.

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY

Needham Market 1 Ipswich Town XI 1

FORMER Ipswich Town Academy player Ollie Fenn came back to his haunt his former club at Bloomfields last night.

One of Needham Market’s numerous summer signings curled home a beauty to give his new club the lead as the non-leaguers matched a strong-looking Ipswich Town XI.

Blues striker Tamas Priskin spared Town’s blushes with a second half equaliser, but even that came following a mistake from Pip Boyland who otherwise had a faultless game in shackling the Hungarian international.

In front of manager Paul Jewell and chief executive Simon Clegg, an Ipswich side containing no fewer than nine players who had tasted first team experience started brightly.

Needham keeper Andrew Plummer saved smartly at his near post from Priskin before the home side took a shock 25th minute lead. Fenn dispossessed Luke Hyam and found the far post beyond the despairing dive of Arran Lee-Barrett.

Plummer, another former Town Academy player, saved well following Jaime Peters’ jinking run before the equaliser finally came in the 52nd minute. But it owed everything to Boyland’s uncharacteristic slip, his failure to deal with Peters’ low cross allowing Priskin to rifle home.

But rather than fold, the Ryman League Division One North side had the best chances. Deakan Napier lobbed Lee-Barrett but saw his shot bounce over the bar before sub Danny Bloomfield was denied by an excellent block by the Ipswich keeper.

Starting line-up

Needham Market: Andrew Plummer; Lewis Pemberton, Gavin Johnson, Pip Boyland, Rhys Barber; Deakan Napier, Ollie Fenn, Bradley Barber, Danny Thorwer, Duane Wright, Sam Newson.

Ipswich Town: Arran Lee-Barrett; Aaron Jones, Joe Whight, Jack Ainsley, Shane O’Connor; Jaime Peters, Colin Healy, Luke Hyam, Jamie Griffiths; Tamas Priskin, Ronan Murray.

Attendance: 553