Charlton 2-1 Ipswich Town
CHARLTON tasted victory tonight in their only home pre-season game with a
2-1 success over Roy Keane’s Ipswich Town.
Valley debutant Miguel Llera just headed wide from Grant Basey’s inviting
cross in Charlton’s first attack of the game.
The Addicks took the lead on 21 minutes when Lloyd Sam was upended by Shane
O’Connor in the penalty area and Deon Burton stepped up to coolly slot home
the spot kick.
Charlton doubled their advantage on 26 minutes when they were again awarded
a penalty.
A great pass by Jonjo Shelvey picked out Sam on the right, whose cross met
the head of Burton.
The striker was unable to get his effort on target but did look likely to
fall kindly to Therry Racon before Veliche Shumulikoski touched the ball.
Referee Trevor Kettle pointed to the spot for the second time and Burton
again made no mistake with a low drive past visiting keeper Shane Supple.
Burton clearly likes playing against East Anglian sides as it was his hat-trick
on the final day of last season which consigned Ipswich’s bitter rivals Norwich
to the drop.
Edward Upson came close to reducing the arrears in the 37th minute when his
header from Reggie Lamb’s cross went just over the bar.
Only a wicked deflection on Nicky Bailey’s dipping shot from the edge of
the area with the last kick of the first half prevented the home side going
in 3-0 to the good at the break.
Incredibly, the third penalty of the game was awarded within three minutes
of the restart but this time it went the way of Ipswich Town after Llera clumsily
felled Connor Wickham.
Wickham quickly regained his composure to try his luck from 12 yards, only
to be denied by a super stop from Rob Elliot.
However, there was nothing the Addicks keeper could do to prevent substitute
David Norris drilling home the rebound to put Ipswich right back in contention.
Lamb came very close to restoring parity on 59 minutes when he scuffed his
attempt on goal when ideally placed to connect with Jamie Peters’ cross.
Only a goal-line clearance by Llera prevented substitute Jon Walters equalising
in the 69th minute as Ipswich again came close.
Parkinson made a series of substitutions shortly afterwards by handing Wade
Small, Stuart Fleetwood, Chris Dickson and Kelly Youga a chance to impress.
Owen Garvan’s powerful shot from 20 yards sailed over Elliot’s bar and into
the tiny collection of Ipswich fans behind the goal on 78 minutes and the
home keeper did well to gather Walters’ long range effort moments later.
Elliot went one better when he got a crucial touch to push Gareth McAuley’s
attempt onto the post, while Bailey fired over from Small’s cross as the hosts
attempted to put the outcome beyond doubt.
Paul Green (www.newsshopper.co.uk)
Deon Burton (21)
Jose Semedo
Matthew Spring (46)
