By Aston
January 3 2006

Town lost a two goal lead against Stoke earlier today but still came away from the Britannia Stadium with a point.

In a Town squad full of youngsters it was the was the old heads of Jason De Vos and Fabian Wilnis who gave Town a 2-0 lead before Darel Russell and Mamady Sidibe pulled goals back for Stoke.

 

The Town side that started Stoke showed 6 changes from that which started against Luton just two days ago, Richard Naylor was suspended, Bowditch, Sito and Haynes where injured while Jimmy Juan and Owen Garvan were rested.

 

Despite all the changes Town got moving from the whistle, Darren Currie was deined by Simonsen while Ian Westlake had an effort blocked before Town took the lead.

 

Jason De Vos marked his 32^nd birthday with a goal after he headed in a Darren Currie corner just six minutes into the game.

 

In the early stages the best Stoke could manage were some long range efforts which flew well of target of Shane Supple’s goal while Lewis Buxton had two close range efforts blocked for the home side.

 

Town then went on to extend their lead, Darren Currie crossed in from the left to Fabian Wilnis whose first effort was parried by Simonsen but the parry only went as far as Wilnis who scored his first goal in nearly three years when he smashed the ball past Simonsen to make it 2-0.

 

Stoke pulled a goal back in the 27^th minute, Bangoura made the most of a small Aidan Collins error and passed the ball to Darel Russell who slotted the ball the ball just inside the post to make it 2-1.

 

Stoke could have been level before the break but Bangoura mis-fired as the first half drew to a close.

 

Both sides made changes after the break, Garvan on for Richard for Town and for Stoke Henry came on for Broomes.

 

Ian Westlake fired just over the bar before Bangoura had a shoot blocked by Supple in the Town goal and the second half continued much like that until the 73^rd minute when Sidibe did manage to net an equaliser for Stoke when he headed home Brammer’s corner.

 

Town nearly took the lead with 7 minutes to go when Gavin Williams had been set free by Ian Westlake but his shot was stopped by Simonsen, Stoke also had chances to win the game Peter Kopteff left Wilnis for dead but his shot was well saved by Supple.

 

Stoke Squad: S Simonsen, C Hoefkens, M Broomes, M Duberry, L Buxton, L Chadwick, D Russell, D Brammer, P Gallagher, S Bangoura, M Sidibe.

Subs: K Henry, E de Goey, P Sweeney, P Kopteff, K Harper.

 

Ipswich Squad: Shane Supple, Fabian Wilnis, Jason De Vos, Scott Barron, Matt Richards, Jim Magilton, Gavin Williams, Aidan Collins, Ian Westlake, Dean McDonald, Darren Currie.

Subs: Kevin Horlock, Adam Proudlock, Jimmy Juan, Owen Garvan, Lewis Price.

	Stoke 2	Town 2
Goals	Russell (27) Sidibe (73)	De Vos (7) Wilnis (18)
Yellow Cards	Chadwick Broomes	None
Red Cards	None	None
Subs	Henry on for Broomes (45) Harper on for Chadwick (60) Kopteff on Gallagher (70)	Garvan on for Richards (45) Juan on for Magilton (71) Proudlock on for McDonald (88)
Possession	46%	54%
Shots	17	13
Corners	11	5
Fouls	16	13
Attendance: 14493

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