Ipswich Town were frustrated on home soil as they dominated Cheltenham but couldn’t find a winner at Portman Road.
All was looking good for the Blues when Luke Woolfenden turned home the opening goal of the game inside 10 minutes but, hugely against the run of the play, the visitors found far too much space down the right flank before Ryan Broom fired a shot through Christian Walton at the near post.
That’s how the game ultimately ended, despite Ipswich continuing to dominate proceedings, creating good chances, having 29 shots and forcing 15 corners without being able to force a second goal.
Freddie Ladapo, Marcus Harness, Conor Chaplin, Cameron Humphreys and Woolfenden all had opportunities to find a winner in this game but, try as they might, the ball couldn’t be forced into the net on a frustrating afternoon in Suffolk.
Cameron Burgess was sent on as a makeshift striker along with Panutche Camara, who rattled the inside of the post during stoppage time as Ipswich continued to push, without finding their goal.
This is a challenge Town have needed to overcome before this season, which they managed successfully in the home clash with Cambridge (3-0 win), while this one followed a similar script to the 1-0 home loss to Lincoln City.
Town did take a point, though, which leaves them second in the table, a point clear of Sheffield Wednesday in third, heading into next Saturday’s televised visit to Exeter.
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna made three changes to the side which drew 4-4 with Charlton Athletic a fortnight ago, with the most-notable being Cameron Humphreys’ inclusion in the middle of midfield, following an injury suffered by Dominic Ball.
The two others came in attack, where Marcus Harness replaced Kayden Jackson on the left flank while Freddie Ladapo led the line in place of Tyreece John-Jules.
After the 25,000-strong crowd inside Portman Road paused to remember those who have lost their lives in conflict, with the playing of the Last Post, Town set about their task of dispatching a Cheltenham side who managed to claim a point on their visit to Suffolk last season.
The game quickly settled into a familiar pattern, with Ipswich enjoying plenty of the ball and beginning attacks well into Cheltenham territory, as they tried to pick their way through a back five intent on keeping them out.
Skipper Sam Morsy had the first effort on goal, firing wide from outside the box, but it didn’t take long for Ipswich to take the lead as, in the eighth minute, Woolfenden popped up to turn in from close-range after Wes Burns had flicked on a Leif Davis corner at the near post.
Town were controlling this game and so nearly had a second goal as Janoi Donacien rampaged forward, reaching the edge of the penalty area before playing a ball into Harness, who thumped against the underside of the bar from inside of the box. The ball bounced clear before Burns had his follow-up shot blocked by Ben Williams.
That, though, was Donacien’s final offering as he hobbled off and was replaced by Kane Vincent-Young on 16 minutes, with the replacement right-back soon having a chance to shoot and seeing his effort saved by Luke Southwood at the near post.
The visiting keeper was then needed to make a brilliant save with his finger-tips, to deny George Edmundson, before Daivs had an opportunity which he headed over the top, following a deep Burns cross.
Then, out of nothing, Cheltenham levelled and silenced Portman Road, as Broom found himself in far too much space on the right, with the wing-back's shot squirming through Christian Walton at the near post.
Conceding sparked momentary panic in the Ipswich defence as Cheltenham worked an opening down the left flank, which ended with Liam Sercombe twist and sending a low ball through the box which Daniel N’Lundulu so nearly turned into an empty net.
A golden chance to take the lead again came and went before the break, when good work from Harness down the right flank saw a low cross delivered into the penalty area and, via a Southwood finger-tip, end up at the feet of Humphreys. The teenager could only shoot straight at the floored goalkeeper, though.
Town went in level at the break with it all to do, on an afternoon which looked like it would be so comfortable, returning to a similar pattern of possession with an opportunity to create.
Good Cheltenham blocks denied both Humphreys and Harness inside the box, before Portman Road applauded as one in the 53rd-minute to remember Martin Swallow, the former chairman of the Ipswich Town Supporters Club who sadly passed away recently following illness.
Chaplin had penalty appeals waved away as the Town attacker claimed Charlie Raglan had handled as he looked to force the ball into danger, before Ipswich’s No.10 fired well over as the Blues worked hard to fashion a difficult chance on the edge of the penalty area.
As Ipswich pushed further Chaplin was becoming more involved as he crossed nicely for Harness, who should have scored but headed wide, as Cheltenham began to break up play and slow things down as players hit the deck.
Woolfenden, already on the scoresheet, missed a chance for a second as he met the ball well when a Davis corner was headed back into danger by Edmundson, before McKenna turned to his bench for the first time and replaced Burns and Harness with Kayden Jackson and Kyle Edwards.
Another big opportunity came and went as Southwood superbly kept out Ladapo’s header, before Chaplin’s follow-up was blocked, with Ipswich entering the final 10 minutes still searching for a winner.
Ladapo looked to be dragged down by Raglan in the box, with no penalty given, before Burgess replaced Chaplin and was sent straight up front in search of a winner.
Camara was also brought on and thought he had made the difference, only for his shot to bounce back off the post as Town needed to settle for a point.
Ipswich Town: Walton; Donacien (Vincent-Young, 17), Woolfenden, Edmundson, Davis, Morsy, Humphreys (Camara, 90); Burns (Jackson, 74), Chaplin (Burgess, 90), Harness (Edwards, 74), Ladapo
Subs: Hladky, Keogh
Cheltenham Town: Southwood, Long, Williams (Hutchinson, 67), Raglan, Freestone, Sercombe, N’Lundulu (Chapman, 84), Bonds, Norton (Lloyd, 67), Broom, Olayinka (Adshead, 72)
Subs: MacDonald, Bradbury, Brown
Att: 25,400 (175 Cheltenham fans)
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