Ipswich Town 2 Charlton 1

An entertaining pre-season friendly against Ipswich Town finished in a 2-1 defeat for the Addicks at Colchester United’s JobServe Community Stadium.

With news earlier in the day about the tragic passing of Charlton U10s player Ethan Ade-Oduwale, both sides wore black armbands to pay their respects to Ethan and a period of applause took place before kick-off. The club would like to thank Ipswich Town and Colchester United for coordinating the on-pitch activity.

The first half was nicely set as a chess match, with Ipswich having more of the possession but the Addicks looking to capitalise when opportunities arose.

Despite the possession, it wasn’t until the 27th minute that the Tractor Boys had their first half chance, with Ali Al-Hamadi shooting wide from close range under heavy pressure from two Charlton defenders, after a deflected free-kick had fallen to him in the box.

Cameron Humphreys came closer, forcing Thomas Kaminski into action on the half-hour mark with a well-struck half-volley that the Charlton stopper was able to bat away.

A lovely turn from Conor Chaplin escaped the Addicks’ defence and allowed him to play in Al-Hamadi, but, again, the Charlton defensive pressure was enough to ensure he was restricted to a tame shot that Kaminski was able to gather.

Charlton’s best spells came from winning the ball back high up the pitch and a good end to the half resulted in Tanto Olaofe flicking a difficult header over the crossbar from Trialist A’s driven, left-footed cross from the right. 

Nathan Jones used his substitutes bench at half-time with Zach Mitchell and Ibrahim Fullah replacing Kayne Ramsay and Joe Rankin-Costello.

Ipswich took the lead six minutes into the second period when Chaplin intercepted a loose pass and played in Jack Clarke, who danced his way across the Charlton box from the left before finishing with a shot back across goal with his right foot. 

Charlton levelled almost immediately from a short corner. Carey’s inswinging cross was flicked on by Kanu into a dangerous area and an Ipswich player deflected the ball onto the crossbar. Olaofe was fastest to the rebound to power home from close range.

Al-Hamadi put Ipswich back in front minutes later, beating the Addicks’ offside trap before slotting through the legs of Kaminski. 

More Charlton substitutes followed and Lloyd Jones twice came close to levelling. First, the defender forced a good save from Ipswich goalkeeper Aro Muric from Tyreece Campbell’s cross and then he headed over from another set piece. 

Charlie Kelman, playing for the first time since joining on Sunday, gave a glimpse of what may be to come when he got in behind the Ipswich defence to latch on to Conor Coventry’s ball forward. The striker did well to beat his defender before poking his shot into the side-netting. 

The Addicks now travel to Southend United on Saturday for the final test of their pre-season campaign before the Sky Bet Championship season begins at The Valley on Saturday, August 9th. 

Ipswich Town: Walton (Muric 46), Johnson (Hutchinson 62), Woolfenden (Taylor 74), Kipre, Townsend, Barbrook (Hirst 74), Humphreys, Ogbene (Young 62), Chaplin (Philogene 74), Clarke (Baggott 74), Al-Hamadi (Szmodics 74)

Subs (not used): Button, O’Shea, Davis

Goals: Clarke 51, Al-Hamadi 58

Assists: Chaplin 51, Johnson 58

Charlton: Kaminski (Maynard-Brewer 63); Ramsay (Z.Mitchell 46), A.Mitchell (Jones 71), Gillesphey (c) (Bell 71); Trialist A (Apter 71), Rankin-Costello (Fullah 46), Anderson (Coventry 71), Carey (Docherty 71), Trialist B (Edwards 63); Kanu (Kelman 71),  Olaofe (Campbell 71)

Subs (not used): Ahadme, Leaburn, Mbick

Goal: Oloafe 55

Booked: Docherty 82

Referee: Alex Chilowicz