Match report: 2 goals in each half saw Town ease past Shelbourne in pre-season opener

Article by e-Ipswich Town's Billy Walker

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Goals from Paul Anderson, Darren McQueen, Jack Marriott and Tyrone Mings saw Ipswich comfortably beat Irish side Shelbourne in their first pre season game.

Mick McCarthy fielded a squad mixed with both youth and experience, handing debuts to recent signing Parr, Wyatt who was signed on a pro-deal following his release from from rivals Norwich, Henshall who joined from Manchester City, and McQueen, who was released by Tottenham. Paul Taylor also started, with Mick McCarthy hinting recently that he was to be given another chance, albeit being put on the transfer list.

Town: Gerken, Parr, Chambers, Smith, Wyatt, Anderson, Hyam, Wordsworth, Henshall, McQueen, Taylor. Subs: Crowe, Bishop, Hewitt, Clarke, Berra, Mings, Stewart, Lawrence, Tabb, Skuse, Nouble, Marriott.

Ipswich started the game really well, and on the 12th minute took the lead. Alex Henshall set Anderson up who finished sweetly from 20 yards.

Town continued to dominate throughout much of the first half, with Paul Taylor looking incredibly dangerous and hard to handle for the youthful Shelbourne side.

The lead was doubled on the 28th minute when Darren McQueen fired into an empty net. Paul Taylor nicked the ball from defender Willo McDonagh’s feet before being brought down by the keeper, but his strike partner was in the perfect position to finish off what was a good move.

Shelbourne's defence were struggling to deal with McQueen and Taylor's pace, and were making numerous errors throughout the half. Anthony Wordsworth was pulling the strings from the centre, and wide men Henshall and Anderson showed plenty of promise.

At half time, Town made 11 changes, as they did last year.

The second half didn’t start as well as the first, and the first real chance wasn’t had until the 59th minute when Tyrone Mings made a storming run, before laying the ball off to Frank Nouble who’s cross met Hewitt but was headed tamely at the goalkeeper.

The 70th minute saw the blues make it 3-0. New signing Cameron Stewart crossed in a pin-point cross, finding Tyrone Mings who headed home from 6 yards.

It was 4-0 by the 76th minute, with Jay Tabb slotting the ball through to Jack Marriott who powered the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.

The game finished quietly, with the Blues looking strong and composed. Shelbourne never really looked like scoring, and their only real shots came from distance. The Town defence looked tight and difficult to break down, something manager Mick McCarthy would have been pleased to see.

Cameron Stewart looked a threat down the right all second half, with Jack Marriott also keeping the defenders busy. The victory will have pleased Mick and the coaching staff, with the team looking very energetic.

Town are next in action at home to West Ham United this coming Wednesday, where they’ll be looking to make it two out of two pre-season victories.

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