IPSWICH Town shared the points with Norwich City in Russell Osman’s first game in charge of the club’s Under-18 side.

It was a blood and thunder 2-2 draw at a rain-soaked Playford Road with central defenders Meekings and McKeown going close with headers before, in the tenth minute, Town took the lead.

It was a memorable goal with a series of one-touch passes cutting through the City defence. Josh Carson finished with a rising shot that crashed off the Norwich bar and into the net.

Moments later Carson struck the City bar again with a 30 yard volley with Ipswich well on top.

Both sides had been forced to make substitutions with Ipswich’s Scotcher and Habergham for the visitors both injured.

On the brink of half-time Town made it two when a chip forward by Callum Bennett was fired across the face of the Canaries’ goal by Carson and Tom Winter tapped home his first goal for the youths team.

Norwich emerged for the second half in determined mood and within four minutes had reduced the arrears when a low shot from Richard Brindley skidded past Cody Cropper in the Town goal.

Cormac Burke twice went close for Town, but it was City who were looking the more dangerous and it was no surprise when a turn and shot from Matthew Ball forced an equaliser.

As tempers spilled over in the final minutes there was a host of bookings before Carson spoiled an outstanding performance with a red card.

Against experienced opponents Town’s youngsters produced another good performance, but a share of the spoils was a fair outcome to a pulsating match.

On Saturday the young Blues travel to Chelsea for an 11am start.

Ipswich: Cropper, Bennett, White, Jones, Meekings, McKeown, Tiofack, Scotcher, Burke, Carson, Winter. Substitutes: Maduako, O’Donnell, Acott, Lawrence, Simmons

Town’s Under-16’s continued their fine form with a 3-1 victory over their Canary counterparts.