Report: Ipswich Town 3-2 Dons
A brace from Alex Revell wasn’t enough for a share of the spoils as the Dons were narrowly beaten 3-2 in an eventful encounter at Portman Road.
Revell had twice levelled for the men from MK1, firstly from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time and then with 15 minutes remaining courtesy of a fine finish.
However, the hosts struck in the final minute of normal time through Luke Varney struck to steal all three points on the Dons’ final away outing of the season.
As promised pre-match, Karl Robinson freshened up his side for the clash at Portman Road with the likes of Samir Carruthers and Alex Revell returning to the starting XI. Dean Bowditch started against his former club while Kevin Long made his debut. Meanwhile, Academy players David Kasumu (16), Oran Jackson (17) and Connor Furlong (18) were named on the bench.
Kyle McFadzean wasn’t risked with him being on 14 bookings and a further yellow card would see him miss three games, which would roll over to next season. David Martin, Cody Cropper, Jake Forster-Caskey, Ben Reeves and Rob Hall were unavailable to injury.
After a slow start to the game, the first chance of the afternoon fell to the hosts and Myles Kenlock, who headed Josh Emmanuel’s cross on to the roof of the net on 12 minutes.
Long was in the right place at the right time a minute later as he cleared away a dangerous delivery in front of the lurking Freddie Sears,
That was a warning for the Dons, who went behind shortly afterwards when David McGoldrick stole in at the back post to steer home Sears’ deep cross.
George Baldock led the response with a barnstorming run forward from right-back before finding Daniel Powell, who saw his cross cut-out.
Two superb saves from Charlie Burns, to deny McGoldrick and then Sears, in quick succession ensured the men from MK1 remained only a goal behind on 20 minutes.
At the other end, the Dons threatened on two counter-attacks - Daniel Powell curling an effort not too far past the post after racing down the right before Josh Murphy was unable to find a team-mate with a dangerous delivery from the left.
However, Karl Robinson’s men made the most of an improved spell on the stroke of half-time when Revell sent Dean Gerken the wrong way from the penalty spot after Carruthers had been brought down by McGoldrick.
The Dons started the second half by far the better of the two teams and went close twice in the opening exchanges – firstly, Murphy saw a free-kick deflect narrowly wide before Carruthers forced Gerken into a smart save from 15 yards.
Ipswich hit back through Teddy Bishop, who poked an effort just wide from 15 yards before Burns got a brilliant fingertip to Sears’ close-range effort.
But there was nothing Burns could on 69 minutes when substitute Brett Pittman powerfully headed home a free-kick from the right-hand side.
The Dons were back on level terms just five minutes later, though, Revell finishing nicely at the back post from Murphy’s deep free-kick.
Revell almost turned provider for substitute Nicky Maynard as the game entered the final 10 minutes but the latter was denied by a last-ditch interception from Christophe Berra.
Second-year scholar Connor Furlong was introduced for his senior debut on 88 minutes – the latest to come through the Academy set-up at the Club.
Ipswich substitute Luke Varney won it for the hosts in the 90th minute, heading Kenlock’s cross past Burns from close range to cruelly deny the Dons at the death.
Starting XI: Burns; Baldock, Long, Walsh, Lewington; Potter, Carruthers (Baker 66); Powell, Bowditch (Maynard 78), Murphy; Revell (Furlong 88).
Unused subs: McFadzean, Jackson, Spence, Kasumu.
Goals: Revell (45, 75).
Attendance: 19,631 (489 Dons fans).
Revell had twice levelled for the men from MK1, firstly from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time and then with 15 minutes remaining courtesy of a fine finish.
However, the hosts struck in the final minute of normal time through Luke Varney struck to steal all three points on the Dons’ final away outing of the season.
As promised pre-match, Karl Robinson freshened up his side for the clash at Portman Road with the likes of Samir Carruthers and Alex Revell returning to the starting XI. Dean Bowditch started against his former club while Kevin Long made his debut. Meanwhile, Academy players David Kasumu (16), Oran Jackson (17) and Connor Furlong (18) were named on the bench.
Kyle McFadzean wasn’t risked with him being on 14 bookings and a further yellow card would see him miss three games, which would roll over to next season. David Martin, Cody Cropper, Jake Forster-Caskey, Ben Reeves and Rob Hall were unavailable to injury.
After a slow start to the game, the first chance of the afternoon fell to the hosts and Myles Kenlock, who headed Josh Emmanuel’s cross on to the roof of the net on 12 minutes.
Long was in the right place at the right time a minute later as he cleared away a dangerous delivery in front of the lurking Freddie Sears,
That was a warning for the Dons, who went behind shortly afterwards when David McGoldrick stole in at the back post to steer home Sears’ deep cross.
George Baldock led the response with a barnstorming run forward from right-back before finding Daniel Powell, who saw his cross cut-out.
Two superb saves from Charlie Burns, to deny McGoldrick and then Sears, in quick succession ensured the men from MK1 remained only a goal behind on 20 minutes.
At the other end, the Dons threatened on two counter-attacks - Daniel Powell curling an effort not too far past the post after racing down the right before Josh Murphy was unable to find a team-mate with a dangerous delivery from the left.
However, Karl Robinson’s men made the most of an improved spell on the stroke of half-time when Revell sent Dean Gerken the wrong way from the penalty spot after Carruthers had been brought down by McGoldrick.
The Dons started the second half by far the better of the two teams and went close twice in the opening exchanges – firstly, Murphy saw a free-kick deflect narrowly wide before Carruthers forced Gerken into a smart save from 15 yards.
Ipswich hit back through Teddy Bishop, who poked an effort just wide from 15 yards before Burns got a brilliant fingertip to Sears’ close-range effort.
But there was nothing Burns could on 69 minutes when substitute Brett Pittman powerfully headed home a free-kick from the right-hand side.
The Dons were back on level terms just five minutes later, though, Revell finishing nicely at the back post from Murphy’s deep free-kick.
Revell almost turned provider for substitute Nicky Maynard as the game entered the final 10 minutes but the latter was denied by a last-ditch interception from Christophe Berra.
Second-year scholar Connor Furlong was introduced for his senior debut on 88 minutes – the latest to come through the Academy set-up at the Club.
Ipswich substitute Luke Varney won it for the hosts in the 90th minute, heading Kenlock’s cross past Burns from close range to cruelly deny the Dons at the death.
Starting XI: Burns; Baldock, Long, Walsh, Lewington; Potter, Carruthers (Baker 66); Powell, Bowditch (Maynard 78), Murphy; Revell (Furlong 88).
Unused subs: McFadzean, Jackson, Spence, Kasumu.
Goals: Revell (45, 75).
Attendance: 19,631 (489 Dons fans).
