Town's reserves were defeated 2-0 at Portman Road on Monday night by a classy Tottenham second string. Goals from Lee Barnard and Kieran McKenna ensured that the visitors left with all three points.

The Blues included Shane Supple, Ian Westlake, Gerard Nash, Jaime Peters, Dean McDonald and Adam Proudlock, whilst Spurs fielded Noe Paramot and Stephen Kelly.

Town made the better start to the game and McDonald won a corner within the first minute.

In the second minute a good passing move between Cathal Lordan and McDonald resulted in the latter delivering a fine low cross that Westlake touched just wide of Tommy Forecast's post.

Westlake was getting stuck into the Spurs midfield and won a crunching tackle before releasing McDonald who in turn fed Peters, but the Canadian couldn't quite get to the ball before keeper Forecast.

In the eighth minute Town won the ball in midfield and a good ball through was almost converted by Proudlock. The big striker had been forced wide but his inventive chip over Forecast almost dropped in under the bar.

Spurs then had their first real attack and a cross from Jamie O'Hara probably should have been converted by Lee Barnard but he headed the ball just past Supple's post.

On 19, a cross from the left by Scott Barron was turned onto the post by Proudlock who volleyed it first time from 18 yards out.

Three minutes later and the visitors were in front. A corner from the right wasn't cleared properly and the ball was hit back into the crowd of players. The ball then deflected off Supple but Liam Craig kept it out but in doing so he hit it against Kieran McKenna and the ball went into the Town net.

On 25, Andy Barcham came close to doubling his side's advantage with a good turn and shot which deflected off one of his own players and bobbled just wide.

Eight minutes later Spurs did double their lead. Right-back Paramot somehow beat three Town players on the touchline before setting up Barcham who crossed in for Lee Barnard to side-foot home.

Spurs' left-back Marcel McKie then burst forward and after beating three Town defenders hit a shot just wide which referee Mr Bull somehow adjudged to have touched a Town player and a corner was awarded.

Two minutes before the break, Cathal Lordan struck a shot from 25 yards out which flew just over the Spurs' bar.

On 53 a Spurs freekick from out wide was headed into the grateful arms of Supple.

A minute later Proudlock was taken out by Charlie Lee who was lucky to receive just a yellow card as he was the last man.

On 59 a cross from the left was again almost converted but after Barnard had taken a touch he ended up being put off and he shot just wide from six yards out.

Just after the hour Town made a double substitution. Danny Haynes replaced the quiet Jaime Peters and Billy Clarke replaced Scott Barron. Liam Craig moved to left-back, McDonald went to left midfield and Clarke went up front with Proudlock.

On 66 a mistake by Town skipper Aidan Collins presented Kieran McKenna with a good chance to score his second but Craig got back and blocked the shot.

Not long after Supple produced a fine diving save to prevent a screamer from Charlie Daniels. Billy Clarke then had the ball in the Spurs net but it was ruled out for offside.

With three minutes remaining, Proudlock had another chance to score but Spurs stopper Forecast remained big and blocked his effort.

A poor performance from a fairly young Town side but Dean McDonald looked lively up front. On the bright side Ian Westlake and Gerard Nash both completed 90 minutes without having any serious reaction.

Ipswich Town: 1 Shane Supple, 2 Sammy Moore, 3 Scott Barron (16 Billy Clarke, 61), 4 Ian Westlake, 5 Aidan Collins (c), 6 Gerard Nash, 7 Jaime Peters (12 Danny Haynes, 61), 8 Cathal Lordan, 9 Dean McDonald, 10 Adam Proudlock and 11 Liam Craig. Unused: 14 Chris Casement and 15 Stuart Ainsley.

Tottenham Hotspur: 1 Tommy Forecast, 2 Noe Paramot, 3 Marcel McKie, 4 Kieran McKenna, 5 Stephen Kelly, 6 Charlie Lee, 7 Stuart Lewis, 8 Jamie O'Hara, 9 Lee Barnard, 10 Andy Barcham (14 Joseph Martin, 74) and 11 Charlie Daniels. Unused: 12 Troy Archibald-Henville, 13 David Button (GK), 15 Alex Smith and 16 Claude Seanla. Referee: Mr M Bull. Attendance: 931.

Photo: Action Images

J2BLUE added 17:55 - Dec 20 I liked the look of that McKenna bloke. I reckon he'll make a great manager in about 16 years.
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