By Aston
December 31 2005

Ipswich Town ended 2005 with a win against Luton Town, a single goal from Ian Westlake enough to secure the points.

With all of Town’s senior strikers out injured Danny Haynes started up-front along side Dean Bowditch, no muscle but plenty of pace and skill.

 

The game started quietly with very little note worthy action in the first quarter of an hour, Warren Feeney was the first to test either of goalkeepers when he tried his luck with a left-footed effort which was saved by Shane Supple in the Ipswich goal.

 

As the first half wore on the game became more and more open, after a goalmouth scramble Dean Bowditch fired his effort from inside the box well over.

 

Underwood fired wide for the Hatters before Bowditch was kept out by Luton ‘keeper Marlon Beresford just before the half time break.

 

After the break Luton looked more likely to take the lead when Steve Robinson headed wide in the 49th-minute.

 

Three minutes later Ian Westlake came on for Sito who has turned his ankle, Matt Richards switched to left back as Town continued in a 4-4-2 formation.  

 

Danny Haynes tried to open the scoring soon after but Beresford kept the youngsters effort out with ease.

 

Steve Robinson fired wide soon after Underwood had his effort tipped round the post as Luton looked to be taking control of the game, but just as that happened Town took the lead.

 

Kevin Nicholls brought down Jason De Vos on the edge of the Luton area, referee Andy D’Urso awarded Town a free kick which Darren Currie passed to Ian Westlake who fired the ball home with 69 minutes gone.

 

Luton boss Mike Newell made changes upfront to try and get a goal, Enoch Showunmi coming on for Rowan Vine but the change made next to no difference as Luton still couldn’t find a goal although they did come close in the final two minutes when the otherwise excellent Shane Supple fumbled a shot which came close to being put in the net.

 

Town Squad: Shane Supple, Luis Sito, Richard Naylor, Jason De Vos, Fabian Wilnis, Owen Garvan, Jimmy Juan, Darren Currie, Matt Richards, Danny Haynes, Dean Bowditch.

Subs: Lewis Price, Jim Magilton, Dean McDonald, Scott Barron, Ian Westlake.

 

Luton Squad: M Beresford, K Foley, C Coyne, M Heikkinen, P Underwood, C Edwards, K Nicholls, S Robinson, A Brkovic, R Vine, W Feeney.

Subs: D Brill, E Showunmi, S Howard, D Morgan, L Barnett.

	Town 1	Luton 0
Goals	Westlake (69)	None
Yellow Cards	None	Foley Nicholls
Red Cards	None	None
Subs	Westlake on for Sito (52) McDonald on for Bowditch (62) Magilton on for Garvan (75)	Howard on for Feeney (60) Barnett on for Coyne (64) Showunmi on for Vine (73)
Possession	52%	48%
Shots	10	13
Corners	3	7
Fouls	9	21
Attendance: 23957

If there was ever an advert for giving the younger players a chance, today was it despite Haynes, McDonalds and Bowditch being unable to find the net they looked a lot more deadly upfront than some of the more senior players have in a long time.

 

Town now sit 14th in the table 6 points above the drop zone and 7 away from the play-offs.

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