Ipswich Town scored 101 goals on their way to promotion from League One this season. Andy Warren ranks them.
Did I need to do this? No, absolutely not. Did I want to? Goodness me, yes.
It's hard to say what the criteria is for ranking these goals. Some things get me going more than others, which becomes apparent if you read on, but it’s fair to say the ranking system is a healthy mix of quality, style, swagger, importance and individuality. Let's just call it a vibe. My vibe.
What this exercise has proven, though, is that Town scored some brilliant goals during a brilliant season. Some missing out on the top 10 would easily claim top spot for other clubs in other seasons.
Anyway... let's go.
101: Lee Evans v Morecambe (a) - October 8
Let’s get the penalties out of the way early. It’s great these players all scored, but I can’t get too excited about them from a ranking point of view. This is solid spot kick from the Welshman, who goes left and nets.
100: Freddie Ladapo v Wycombe Wanderers (h) - April 7
A nice low penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way.
99: Nathan Broadhead v Exeter City (h) - April 29
The former Everton man sends the keeper the wrong way from the spot and fires high into the net.
98: Dominic Iorfa og v Sheffield Wednesday (a) - September 17
A good ball into the box from Burns sees former Town defender Iorfa turn into his own net.
97: Luke Woolfenden v Fleetwood Town (h) - December 2
Not every goal needs to be a thing of beauty. This one wasn’t, with Woolfenden tapping home after a scramble in the box after Chaplin and Ladapo’s touches, but it did show Town’s set-piece prowess.
96: Freddie Ladapo (first) v Morecambe (h) - January 24
Even the ugly ones can feel beautiful. This is a good example of that, with Ladapo finishing off a scramble following a corner.
95: Marcus Harness v MK Dons (h) - August 13
Dons are punished for messing about with the ball at the back, Burns lets fly from range and sees the keeper spill his shot, with Harness bundling the rebound home.
94: Leif Davis v Charlton Athletic (h) - April 15
An easy finish for Davis, after Edwards turns Jackson’s cross onto the post.
93: Kayden Jackson v Shrewsbury (a) – August 20
A similar goal to Harness’s v MK Dons, but this time involving some good Ipswich build-up play before Jackson turns home after Morsy’s shot bounces out.
92: Conor Chaplin v Portsmouth (a) - December 29
Let’s keep these rebound goals together. A good decision from Morsy to try his luck from range sees Chaplin cleverly follow up to score. It looks lucky but both players needed to be switched on.
91: Kayden Jackson v Accrington Stanley (h) - March 7
Broadhead makes this with a tight jink in space, with Jackson converting after Luongo’s shot came back off the bar.
90: Marcus Harness v Fleetwood Town (a) - May 7
Town’s final goal of the season wasn’t the prettiest, but it was still a decent finish from Harness.
89: George Edmundson v Morecambe (a) - October 8
Good work from Edmundson to get to the near post and meet Davis’s low corner.
88: Freddie Ladapo (second) v Port Vale (a) - October 25
The finish is as simple as it gets but the build-up play is great, with Edwards, Davis and Humphreys all executing to perfection.
87: Freddie Ladapo v Forest Green Rovers (h) - February 18
A curled free-kick, nodded into danger by Burgess and finished well by Ladapo.
86: Wes Burns v Peterborough United (a) - April 22
A rebound, yes, but Burns needed to finish well here to convert after Broadhead’s shot is blocked away.
85: Freddie Ladapo v Charlton Athletic (h) - April 15
Persistence pays off for the Town striker, who eventually finds space to drive into the net.
84: Sam Morsy v Barnsley (h) - August 27
The Town skipper had been getting into some really good positions during the early weeks of the season and finally gets his goal when turning home Burns’ cross.
83: Conor Chaplin (second) v Accrington Stanley (a) - September 2
Chaplin did eventually keep this goal after a bit of an inquest, following a heavy deflection on his shot from outside the box.
82: Kyle Edwards (first) v Cambridge (h) - October 4
This goal was spectacular when it came... but it is a cross. Still a very fun moment, though.
81: Wes Burns v Portsmouth (h) - October 1
Ipswich’s first goal from a player’s face of the season is a crucial one. Burns ultimately turned home from right under the crossbar, but the run and deflected cross from Edwards that makes it is great. A bit of luck, sure, but Town definitely made their own here.
80: Tyreece John-Jules v Cambridge (h) - October 4
Patience pays off for Town as a good Evans clip, a cross from Harness and a kind Cambridge bounce sees the ball loop up for John-Jules to nod home.
79: Tyreece John-Jules v Charlton Athletic (a) - October 29
Charlton weren’t happy with this one, calling for an offside which looks like should probably have come, but it didn’t. Ignoring that, it’s a good header.
78: Conor Chaplin (third) v Charlton Athletic – April 15
Chaplin’s first Ipswich hat-trick is complete when a Luongo ball into the box is touched back by Broadhead, allowing the top scorer to finish easily.
77: Conor Chaplin (second) v Burton Albion (h) - March 4
Broadhead works the ball to Davis who pulls back to Chaplin, who fires home his shot with the aid of a deflection.
76: Freddie Ladapo v Plymouth Argyle (a) - September 25
Morsy’s tackle pass sends Ladapo away, with the striker putting the ball home with the aid of a deflection. If Christian Walton’s stoppage time header had dipped below the bar, rather than being turned onto it, I don’t think I would have been able to resist ranking that top of this list.
75: Conor Chaplin v Shrewsbury (a) – August 20
A drive down the left and a darting ball inside finds Chaplin on the edge of the box, where he is able to finish really well.
74: George Edmundson v Charlton Athletic (a) - October 29
The centre-half showed real desire here to beat a gathering of Addicks and head home.
73: Freddie Ladapo v Cambridge United (a) - February 4
Edwards makes this goal with a clever dart to the byline, where he is able to pull the ball back for Ladapo to finish nicely.
72: Lee Evans v Bristol Rovers (h) - September 13
A deflection aided the flight, but a great strike from Evans from outside the penalty area.
71: Leif Davis v Oxford United (a) - January 21
Town’s equaliser in the fog comes following a darting Donacien run and a clever cross from Harness, with Davis arriving at the back post to nod home.
70: Cameron Burgess v Portsmouth (a) - December 29
As simple as you like. Evans delivers a ball which lands at Burgess’ feet for the big centre-half to turn home.
69: Conor Chaplin v Cheltenham Town (a) - April 10
As simple as you like (again). A long Harry Clarke through drops to the foot of Chaplin, who has somehow found space to turn home.
68: Conor Chaplin (second) v Morecambe (h) – January 24
The Burns/Chaplin connection is at it again, with the latter finishing through traffic from an acre of space.
67: Nathan Broadhead v Forest Green Rovers (h) - February 18
A nice ball in from Humphreys sees Broadhead get ahead of his man to finish well.
66: Leif Davis v Sheffield Wednesday (h) - February 11
A sweet strike from Davis hits the back of the net, with his free-kick taking a very kind flick off the head of a Wednesday man. It loses a few spots in the list for that, but it doesn’t make it any less important.
65: Conor Chaplin (first) v Burton Albion (h) - March 4
I will not lie to you, Chaplin has scored a lot of goals this season which come from cut-backs into the box. I’m finding it hard to rank them. They are all decent. This one was, too, with a spin and finish as he found space after being found by Burns.
64: Nathan Broadhead v Barnsley (a) - April 25
A clever header at the near post sneaks into the back of the net, taking the majority of Oakwell by surprise.
63: George Hirst v Exeter City (h) - April 29
Clever work from Broadhead down the left sees a cross with the outside of his right foot turned home by Hirst on the stretch.
62: Conor Chaplin (second) v Exeter City (h) - April 29
Hirst bullies Alex Hartridge into submission, with the Grecians defender only able to nod the ball out to Chaplin, who thunders in his finish.
61: Luke Woolfenden v Cheltenham Town – November 12
A wicked corner, a clever flick on and a really nice run from Woolfenden allows him to turn home at the back post.
60: Conor Chaplin (first) v Accrington Stanley (a) - September 2
How Ipswich manage to find Chaplin, who isn’t the biggest of players, in so much space at corners I will never know. But Davis did, here, allowing Town’s No.10 to lever home really nicely.
59: Conor Chaplin (first) v Charlton Athletic (h) - April 15
This one’s all about composure. Chaplin latches onto a Davis ball inside and holds his shot, making space for himself to finish.
58: Marcus Harness v Exeter City (a) - November 19
Davis’s teasing corner is nodded home well by Harness, who showed good strength and awareness to peel off his marker and head home.
57: Marcus Harness v Forest Green (a) - August 6
A great finish from Harness, high into the net, following good work down the Ipswich left.
56: Conor Chaplin v Morecambe (first) v Morecambe (h) - January 24
Burns’ pull-back for his mate Chaplin is on the money and the No.10’s finish is great.
55: Wes Burns v Wycombe Wanderers (h) - April 7
Smack. Clarke wins the ball, Hirst slips Burns away and the Welshman slams the ball home, past a goalkeeper who doesn’t put up much of a fight.
54: Conor Chaplin v Bristol Rovers (h) - September 13
A very clean Ipswich Town goal, which saw Harness and Morsy play a lovely one-two, before the ball is pulled back for Chaplin to spin and finish.
53: Marcus Harness v Portsmouth (h) - October 1
Harness’s finish is lovely, as he slides home against his former club, with Morsy and Chaplin both involved in making it as they win balls back in midfield.
52: Massimo Luongo v Shrewsbury Town (h) - March 18
Industrious stuff from Chaplin sees the No.10 force his way inside and have an effort deflected into the path of Luongo, who sweeps home.
51: Massimo Luongo v Exeter City (h) - April 29
More industry from the Aussie, who picks the ball up from Hirst and drives into the box to fire home.
50: Kyle Edwards (second) v Cambridge United – October 4
If Edwards’ first goal against Cambridge was down to a bit of luck, this one was all about desire as he runs from deep to make sure he gets to a loose ball first and finish really well.
49: Conor Chaplin v MK Dons (h) - August 13
Chaplin’s first of a golden season came in familiar fashion, with a brilliant finish from inside the box after being fed a cut-back. Donacien’s little chop inside makes it.
48: Conor Chaplin v Oxford United (h) - December 26
Evans wins it back, Aluko strolls inside and picks out Chaplin in an acre of space. Town’s sharpshooter does the rest.
47: Lee Evans v Bolton Wanderers (h) - July 30
Town’s first goal of the season was the sign of things to come, as the Blues midfielder nets from a clever set-piece. Chaplin took it, with Evans guiding the ball home perfectly.
46: Conor Chaplin (second) v Forest Green Rovers (h) - February 18
Incisive stuff from the Ipswich left, with Broadhead and Davis combining to allow Chaplin to finish on the slide.
45: Nathan Broadhead v Burton Albion (h) - March 4
This one starts at the feet of Walton and moves up the right side at pace, with Burns powerfully crossing for Broadhead to finish after checking his run.
44: Freddie Ladapo v Oxford United (h) – December 26
Ladapo’s finish on Boxing Day was ultimately very simple, but the build up was really nice. Woolfenden’s forward surge and clever touch, Harness’s ball in and Chaplin’s parried shot made it.
43: Conor Chaplin (second) v Peterborough United (h) – December 8
Remarkably, Chaplin was able to drag himself up off the ground following a tangle at a corner, before lashing his shot through traffic and into the net.
42: Wes Burns v Derby County (h) - October 21
Yes Derby brought this on themselves and yes Jackson probably should have scored rather than hitting the post, but Burns’ finish is ultimately calm and very classy. The occasion bumps this up a little, too.
41: Freddie Ladapo (second) v Morecambe (h) - January 24
Broadhead scampers free and slips Ladapo in, with the striker doing the rest as he fires back across the goalkeeper from a tight angle, finishing off the post.
40: Freddie Ladapo v Burton Albion (h) - March 4
Really slick from Town, with Luongo’s high ball testing the Burton defence and Chaplin picking out a beautiful pass for Ladapo to finish nicely.
39: Wes Burns v Oxford United (h) – December 26
Another set-piece goal, this time right off the training ground, with Burns peeling to the near post and meeting Davis’s low delivery and firing back across goal.
38: Freddie Ladapo v Peterborough United (a) - April 22
Ladapo keeps a Burns cross alive and, after knocking up in the air for himself, rifles home.
37: Conor Chaplin v Wycombe Wanderers (h) - April 7
A variation on a theme, here, with Burns feeding Chaplin, who takes a great touch to move the ball out from under his feet and fire home.
36: Freddie Ladapo v Fleetwood Town (a) - May 7
Strength and power from the Town striker, who collects Donacien’s throw and whacks it home.
35: Wes Burns v Exeter City (h) - April 29
Desire, pace and composure sees Burns complete the scoring on the day Town won promotion.
34: Conor Chaplin v Barnsley (h) - August 27
A beautiful free-kick, fired home by Chaplin against his former club. It pinged back off the net really nicely.
33: Kyle Edwards v Accrington Stanley (h) - March 7
I can’t really split this and Chaplin’s free-kick effort against Barnsley, but Edwards can go higher solely due to Chaplin having so many entries on this list.
32: Conor Chaplin (first) v Forest Green Rovers (h) - February 18
Broadhead’s pass round the corner would be right up there in the assist of the season category (I’m not doing that one, sorry), making Chaplin’s finish a relatively simple one.
31: Freddie Ladapo v Charlton Athletic (first) - April 15
Straight off the bench and straight into the back of the net for Ladapo, after Morsy’s tackle, drive and through ball allowed the striker to finish cleverly.
30: George Hirst v Wycombe Wanderers (h) - April 7
Simple but clinical, as a Davis corner is met by Hirst, who flies through the air to meet it.
29: Freddie Ladapo (first) v Port Vale (a) - October 25
A sneaky good goal, here. Davis’s cross through the penalty area is superb and Ladapo’s awareness and run is just as good, providing him the chance to apply an easy finish.
28: Sam Morsy v Forest Green (a) - August 6
The finish from Morsy is a brilliant one, looping the ball home, but the build-up play down the left side again was just as slick.
27: Conor Chaplin (first) v Peterborough United (h) - December 8
This one’s really nice, with Morsy clipping a ball into danger which Chaplin arches his back to reach and head home into the corner. He can score all types of goals.
26: Wes Burns v MK Dons (h) - August 13
A brilliant, flowing goal from the Blues, with Donacien storming down the right and cutting the ball back for Burns to sweep home at pace. Lovely stuff.
25: Marcus Harness v Burton Albion (a) - August 16
This goal was really important. On a night where Town faced a barrage of pressure, Harness moves the ball out of his feet and drills it home from outside the box to secure the win. Brilliant stuff.
24: Freddie Ladapo v Exeter City (a) - November 19
A great goal, this one. Morsy’s ball into danger is pinpoint, just like Harness’s head across goal for Ladapo to stoop and nod into the back of the net.
23: Wes Burns v Plymouth Argyle (h) - January 14
Bang! A thumping shot from Burns beats Michael Cooper, following a brilliant touch from Woolfenden.
22: Cameron Humphreys v Lincoln City (a) - January 2
A lovely ball in from Chaplin and a great flying header from young Humphreys rescues a point for Town on the road.
21: Sam Morsy v Charlton Athletic (a) - October 29
A great strike from the skipper, who took aim from outside the box and rifled home. This should have wrapped up a win – but we know what happened next.
20: Nathan Broadhead v Accrington Stanley (h) - March 7
This goal is really nice and drew plenty of plaudits at the time, starting right at the back as Ipswich worked the ball through their entire team before changing the pace down the right, with Jackson pulling back for Broadhead to finish. It was lovely, but the Accrington pressure to try and win the ball back was woeful. That’s why they went down and why this goal doesn’t feature as highly for me as many might have expected it to.
19: Cameron Burgess v Bolton Wanderers (a) - March 11
The prize for Town’s best headed goal of the season goes to Burgess, who eased his way through traffic to powerfully head home to make sure of the points at the stadium formerly known as the Reebok.
18: Kayden Jackson v Sheffield Wednesday (a) - September 17
A brilliant surge forward from George Edmundson and a wicked finish from Jackson, who picks his spot expertly. A really lovely goal.
17: Conor Chaplin v Barnsley (a) - April 25
A beautiful chipped finish from Chaplin, who showed great composure to lift it into the space afforded to him from the edge of the box.
16: Nathan Broadhead v Sheffield Wednesday (h) - February 11
Broadhead won the free-kick himself and then fired into the tightest of spaces inside the top corner. A vital goal in the context of Town’s season, from a player with no history in the world of free-kicks. This was clearly a brilliant free-kick at a vital time and some of you may think this is ranked way too low. And that's fine. But (and I'm not really sure why) free-kicks don't get me as excited as they maybe should.
15: Nathan Broadhead (first) v Port Vale (h) - April 18
With Town trailing, Broadhead produces a brilliant finish to flash home a pacey Burns cross from the right side.
14: Sam Morsy v MK Dons (a) - February 25
The skipper wins the ball back himself, advances and rifles home a match-winner for his side.
13: Cameron Humphreys v Port Vale (a) - October 25
Bang again! What a strike from Humphreys as he fires back through traffic for his first senior goal. He struck it so sweetly.
12: Freddie Ladapo v Portsmouth (h) - October 1
An instant impact from Ladapo as he produced a brilliant finish to sweep the ball into the top corner, following an excellent Edmundson run and drive at the box from Davis.
11: George Hirst v Shrewsbury Town (h) - March 18
This goal reminds me of Marcus Stewart’s at Wembley in 2000, with Hirst meeting Burns cross cleverly and directing his header perfectly.
10: Conor Chaplin (second) v Charlton Athletic (h) - April 15
This goal is all about Broadhead’s scoop pass, but Chaplin’s finish is brilliant, too.
9: Conor Chaplin v Peterborough United (a) - April 22
Broadhead and Chaplin are at it again, with the former surging forward and producing a stunning through ball which the latter slots home with aplomb.
8: Nathan Broadhead (second) v Port Vale – April 18
Ignore what I said earlier about penalties. This one is all about holding nerve and having ice in the veins, with Broadhead producing with the pressure really on. Incredible.
7: Freddie Ladapo v Charlton Athletic (a) – October 29
What a thunderous shot from outside the box, as Ladapo takes the ball with his back to goal, turns away from his man and unleashes a rocket.
6: Conor Chaplin (first) v Exeter City (h) - April 29
The timing was perfect, settling any kind of nerves on the day Town won promotion, but the quality of it was out of the top drawer. So much pace and a bit of dip as well.
5: George Hirst v Bolton Wanderers (a) - March 11
A super little goal. Burns makes it with a great interception, a brilliant driving run and a calm cross which Hirst meets perfectly to finish. It wasn’t a simple one at all. Great goal.
4: Tyreece John-Jules v Shrewsbury (a) - August 20
What a goal from the Arsenal loanee, who wins the ball back himself in the middle of the pitch and weaves his way through a Shrewsbury defence which can’t cope with him. The finish is great, too.
3: George Hirst v Derby County (a) - April 1
I absolutely love this finish from Hirst. The ball is almost stationary by the time he turns and hits it, but the composure needed to pick his spot in this situation shouldn’t be underestimated. Neither should Morsy’s ball up the pitch and the run from Burns. Brilliant stuff.
2: Conor Chaplin v Derby County (a) - April 1
Stunning. Town move the ball from Walton’s hands to the back of the net in just 11 seconds. The throw out, Broadhead’s run and timing to release an arching crossfield ball and then Burns’ cushioned header are all perfect, allowing Chaplin to finish. Counter-attacking at its very best.
1: George Hirst v Barnsley (a) - April 25
Chaplin’s goal at Derby won Ipswich’s goal of the season earlier in the month but, after a LOT of deliberating and swapping them around a load of times, this one pips it for me. I love everything about it – even Davis’s long lump forward to start it, which hopefully went down as an official assist. Then it’s all about Hirst, with strength, power, pace and clinical finishing all on display. It really is a superb goal.
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