Harriers valiantly battled through two hours of football, but after working hard to force the game into extra
time were beaten by a goal ten seconds into the extra period. After four attempts they have still to
win a game in the League Cup.
From the start both teams played good football, Ipswich allowing Harriers much more time on the ball than they
get in the Third Division. Inside the first couple of minutes Harriers had forced an opening but Ipswich
began a barrage of shots that was to last all night with Darren Bent missing a hatful. In the first fifteen
minutes he had two chances first racing through the heart of the Red defence before being denied by a late
tackle by Adam Willis and then soon after shooting wide of goal with Stuart Brock stranded out of position.
Harriers didn't allow themselves to be overawed by the occasion and after 18 mintes Graham Ward had a good
chance to open the scoring with a 20 yard free kick that he curled over the wall but it flew straight at Kelvin
Davis in the home goal. Soon after Ward's right wing corner found Willis at the far post but he headed
straight at the keeper.
In the first half Ward was at the heart of most of the good play that Harriers produced, after 24 minutes he
began a move that involved Dean Bennett and then raced forward to get on the end of Bennett's cross but headed
just wide. Kenny Coleman continued to show the improvement that he has made as a player over the summer
and stood firm to most Ipswich attacks that he faced. After 28 minutes he was on hand to deny Bent again,
pressuring him into shooting wide from 25 yards.
After weathering the early pressure from Ipswich Harriers got themselves into the game and as the half wore
on they began to get on top. In the last ten minutes of the half both Sam Shilton and John Williams
created havoc in the Town defence getting to the goalline and pulling the ball back into the goalmouth but
on both occasions the defence was able to cleat the danger. Bennett had a good chance racing on to a
throw from Brock but he waited too long before shooting and Drissa Diallo was able to get a tackle in. Harriers'
best chance of the game came six minutes before the break and fell to John Williams who found himself clear
in the penalty area but poked his shot wide of the far post.
After the break the action did not let up and Ipswich came out with all guns blazing, Darren Bent was again
involved racing clear of the Harriers defence but Brock was off his line quickly to block him. Despite
the amount of chances Ipswich were creating, and wasting, Harriers still created chances themselves with both
Ward and Bennett having long range shots go close. After an hour Ipswich began to increase the pressure,
Martijn Reuser spun free in the middle and shot just wide from 20 yards, Tommy Miller shot across the face
of goal and Darren Bent was again foiled by Brock after turning Craig Hinton inside out.
Sixteen minutes from time Bent turned provider, rolling the ball into the path of Dean Bowditch but the youngster
fired over the bar from close range. In the last five minutes Reuser set up Bent again but Brock was
there again to push the shot away. At the other end Ward curled a shot wide from 25 yards and Matt
Lewis chipped weakly into the arms of Davis. In the last minute of the game Reuser broke clear but
Brock saved well to concede a corner.
The game went into extra-time but all of Harriers' hard work in the preceeding 90 minutes was undone within
just ten seconds. Harriers kicked-off the extra period but lost possession, Reuser pumped the ball
forward Brock started to come for it but hesitated and Scott Stamps headed weakly clear, the ball
dropped to the edge of the penalty area invitingly for Bowditch who, with Brock stranded out of position,
had an open goal at his mercy and made no mistake. The goal knocked the stuffing out of Harriers and
four minutes later the deficit was almost doubled when Reuser broke away on the right and played the ball
square to Reuser who fired straight at Brock from close range.
Harriers did begin to get themselves back into the game, a Sean Flynn free kick found Bennett on the right
and his cross into the danger area was headed wide at the near post by Lewis. Ipswich continued to
press and Bowditch raced onto a pass through the heart of the defence but Brock pushed his shot over the bar.
When the teams changed ends to begin the second period of extra time Brock was given a warm reception by
the Ipswich fans behind the goal as he ran down to take up his position. Bent continued to get into
all of the right places but twice in the first couple of minutes he shot wide wsting chances and then
Bowditch got through again only to be thwarted by Brock who pushed his shot onto the bar. Harriers had
one last chance three minutes from the end, Bennett made a run into the penalty area beating two defenders
but ran out of steam and lost the ball. Ipswich ran out time in control and in the last minute had
another chance but after a good interchange of passes Reuser saw his shot saved by Brock.
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