IPSWICH Town Under-18’s lost their final game of the season when beaten 2-1 at home by Tottenham Hotspur.
Rory McKeown was a surprise choice alongside Caolan Lavery in the Ipswich attack and after a two-week break the home side looked a little ring rusty.
Spurs took full advantage in the fourth minute when Massimio Luongo waltzed through a static home defence to fire a deflected shot past Cody Cropper.
The Londoners were well on top and Coulthirst headed inches over before Josh Meekings was forced to make a outstanding block to prevent a certain second goal.
Having weathered the storm Town found their feet and Callum Bennett went close with a characteristic surging run and shot before Aaron Jones had a blockbuster well saved by Jordan Archer.
Against the run of play the Londoners went further ahead when poor marking left Shaq Coulthirst time to fire home from a narrow angle.
The second half became a battle between Archer in the Spurs goal and the Ipswich forwards as the keeper brought off a string of fine saves.
Eventually he was beaten in the 73rd minute by a tremendous 20 yard free-kick from Lavery that no keeper could have saved.
As the final whistle approached Archer made one more outstanding save from a 25 yard dipping volley from Lavery.
With little at stake both sides deserve credit for an entertaining finale at Playford Road, but Town will feel that they deserved a share of the points.
In his final game in Ipswich colours Meekings was outstanding and he and McKeown will be missed next season.
Ipswich: Cropper, Bennett, October, Jones, Meekings, Scotcher, Burke, Acott, Lavery, McKeown., Tiofack Subs: Winter, O’Donnell, Marriott, Simmons, Lawrence.
On the adjacent pitch Ipswich U16’s ended a great season with a thriller, losing by the odd goal in seven to Spurs after being four goals behind.
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