Report: Cambridge United 1 Ipswich Town 1 – Dozzell’s goal cancelled out at the end

The Blues passed the ball as well as they have done this summer and finally broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute when 17-year-old Dozzell spun in the box and found the bottom corner with a crisp finish.

Mick McCarthy’s men switched off and were punished in the 89th minute though when Joe Piggott made no mistake one-on-one.

It was, however, a day of more positives than negatives. Academy product Tristan Nydam, 16, impressed in central midfield, summer signing Adam Webster looked assured at the back, while David McGoldrick produced some spark on his latest injury comeback.

Town started on the front foot and forced two early corners, but it was Cambridge who produced the first shot on goal when George Maris’ long-range attempt was easily held by Bartosz Bialkowski.

Ipswich began to pass the ball with confidence, mixing up quick one-touch triangles in tight areas with sudden cross-field switches.

It was from one such move, in the 15th minute, that they should have scored. Luke Hyam was involved in the early phase, James Blanchfield found advanced right-back Josh Emmanuel with a diagonal ball and his cross from the by-line was inch-perfect for Daryl Murphy inside the six-yard box.

Murphy’s close-range header was too close to keeper Will Norris though and when Shane McLoughlin netted the rebound the offside flag was raised.

There was a similarly slick spell of passing from the visitors five minutes later, but on this occasion it didn’t end with a goalscoring chance.

Cambridge went close just after the half hour mark when big striker Joe Pigott won an aerial duel with Christophe Berra and nodded the ball backwards for the on-rushing Maris to lash just wide from outside the area.

Summer signing Adam Webster, making his first start of pre-season after recovering from an ankle injury, was looking very assured at the back. Not only is he comfortable on the ball, but he was strong in the air and tackle too.

Luke Hyam had fallen awkwardly earlier in the half and, having carried on, was withdrawn in the 34th minute.

He was replaced, surprisingly, by 16-year-old academy player Tristan Nydam. The Zimbabwe-born teenager, who has been at the club since the age of 10, was someone McCarthy highlighted as having a bright future back in May and played 90 minutes the previous night as a young Blues team drew 1-1 at Coggeshall.

Wearing no number on his shirt – which is perhaps an indication he hadn’t started the day in McCarthy’s plans – his first involvement was to take a touch in midfield, turn and, refreshingly, immediately look to find a striker.

Ipswich had dominated possession, but they rode their luck on the stroke of half-time after some sloppy play.

Emmanuel was robbed of possession high up the field, Bishop wasn’t quick enough to cover the gap and, all of a sudden, Max Clark had sent Maris racing clear down the left channel.

When Maris touched the ball wide of on-rushing keeper Bialkowski he looked destined to find the unguarded net, but instead he rolled his angled shot against the outside of the near post.

With neither manager making a change at the break, Cambridge created the first chance of the second half when, after a long ball was only half cleared, Clark lashed wide from the edge of the box.

Town’s first opening of the second period arrived after Blanchfield and McLoughlin combined well down the left. Jonas Knudsen, on the overlap, cut inside before seeing his right-footed shot deflected wide.

McCarthy voiced his discontent when Knudsen passed the ball across the back instead of looking forwards. He’d made similar feelings be known to Luke Chambers and Paul Digby during the midweek win at Colchester.

Nydam and Cole Skuse were combining well in the middle and it was Nydam’s fine raking pass which Murphy plucked out the air in the 58th minute, the Irishman subsequently cutting inside before seeing his shot deflected wide.

McCarthy made two changes soon afterwards, bringing on David McGoldrick and Freddie Sears for McLoughlin and Blanchfield.

It was McGoldrick’s first appearance of pre-season following hip/thigh problems and he looked pretty ring-rusty early on, tripping over the ball, under-hitting a diagonal pass and slicing a cross behind on the stretch.

Both managers made eight changes in the 68th minute, Moments later, Tommy Smith met Andre Dozzell’s corner with a looping header which dropped just over the bar.

McGoldrick soon began to find his stride. One glorious diagonal pass was quickly followed by a well-weighted through ball which sent Sears racing clear, only for Norris to save at his feet one-on-one.

Town looked the far more likely to win it and they finally broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute. Dozzell started the move by striding forwards with the ball, Sears crossed low from the left and Dozzell took a touch inside the area, swivelled before finding the bottom right corner of the goal with a crisp shot.

That should have been that, but the Blues switched off at the death and were punished. After the visitors lost the ball in the middle of the field, home sub Conor Newton played a quick through ball and Pigott made no mistake one-on-one.

CAMBRIDGE UTD (4-1-4-1): Norris; Taylor (Keane 68), Legge (Roberts 68), Dallison (Coulson 68), Dunk (Adams 68); Dunne (Newton 68); Mingoia (Williams 68), Clark (Elito 68), Berry; Maris (Williamson 68), Pigott.

Unused subs: Gregory.

IPSWICH TOWN (4-4-2): Bialkowski; Emmanuel (Chambers 67), Webster (Digby 67), Berra (Smith 67), Knudsen (Kenlock 67); Blanchfield (Sears 59), Skuse (Douglas 67), Hyam (Nydam 34, Bru 67), Bishop (Dozzell 67); McLoughlin (McGoldrick 59), Murphy (Pitman 67).

Unused subs: Crowe, Malarczyk, Stewart, Downes.