CITY 1 IPSWICH TOWN 1
League Division 1
31st August 1968
Attendance 31,303
Scorers
City Bell(42)
Ipswich Crawford(88)
Ref K Wynn
City Mulhearn, Connor, Pardoe, Doyle, Heslop, Oakes, Lee, Bell, Summerbee, Young, Coleman – Sub Bowles(unused)
Ipswich Hancock, Carroll, Houghton; Morris,,Baxter, Jefferson, Hegan, Viljoen, Crawford, Hunt, Brogan – Sub Spearritt
City squandered another point in a match they should have sewn up long before half-time.
In the opening 20 minutes the Blues pressured the visitors goal and it seemed as if they had at last hit the form that won them the title. But three or four good chances went begging and Ipswich dragged eight men back in defence when danger threatened.
City broke through when Colin Bell beautifully rounded Derek Jefferson to send Francis Lee away Mike Summerbee met Lee’s centre perfectly but Ken Hancock pulled off a magnificent save.
Bill Baxter defended stoutly and Bill Houghton twice blocked goal-bound efforts from Lee and Bell before City broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute. Lee centered for Bell, who hit the ball first time. It clipped Baxter on the way into the net to give Hancock no chance.
City made the mistake of leaving Ray Crawford in an open space. Colin Viljoen found him with a pinpoint pass which Crawford steered past Ken Mulhearn to earn Ipswich their first-ever point at Maine Road in five visits. The goal came two minutes from time.
Lee was by far City’s best player and he got good support from Bell.
FROM THE CITY PROGRAMME 25TH NOVEMBER 1978