Under-18s edged out by Ipswich

In a closely fought contest at Hotspur Way, our Under-18s slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Ipswich Town in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Our visitors opened the scoring on 54 minutes through Ola Bello, but we were soon back on terms as Roshaun Mathurin lashed home a fine half-volley with 17 minutes still to play.

It was to be Ipswich’s day, though, as, with both sides battling for a late winner, defender Cameron Stewart popped up to claim victory for the Suffolk-based outfit in the closing stages.

It had been a slow start with little chances of note in the opening half-hour, yet, in the 15 minutes before the break, we began to turn the screw. Chances fell for both Jamie Donley and Jez Davies, while Tarrelle Whittaker twice came close to breaking the deadlock.

However, against the run of play, it was our visitors who took the lead, Bello slotting home from close range to finish off a quick breakaway nine minutes into the second period.

We responded well to the setback and had a flurry of chances in the following minutes to level the scores. Whittaker and Yago Santiago both sent efforts off target while Donley and Kallum Cesay put the goalkeeper’s reflexes to the test.

The equaliser eventually came for us on 73 minutes. Mathurin was the scorer, and in some style as he smashed home a half-volley from close range, yet it was down to the persistence of Cesay that the chance presented itself, as the defender showed great determination to prevent Ipswich from clearing their lines.

Moments later, Mathurin came agonisingly close to a quick second, but his effort from the edge of box cannoned back off the post and the rebound was smothered by the keeper. However, with nine minutes left, centre-back Stewart rose highest at the back post to head home the winner for Ipswich.