By Mikey Hale

Skipper shines as Blues win at Plough Lane

An eye-catching brace from Sam Morsy helped Town secure a comfortable pre-season victory over AFC Wimbledon.

The captain opened the scoring with a half-volleyed effort from distance, with his second-half lob from 40 yards completing the scoring after Tyreece John-Jules had netted his first goal in an Ipswich shirt.

Town enjoyed plenty of the ball in the opening stages, with Conor Chaplin forcing Nik Tzanev into a smart stop inside the first five minutes.

The Blues broke the deadlock with just over 11 minutes played through an expertly-taken goal from Morsy. The captain took in a pass from Idris El Mizouni before drilling the ball into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Ayoub Assal headed the hosts' first chance comfortably over Christian Walton's goal, with Johnnie Jackson's side somehow managing to clear a goalmouth scramble midway through the half when it looked like Greg Leigh, then Cameron Burgess, would fire home.

Freddie Ladapo was the next to threaten, but the striker was denied by the onrushing Tzanev after being played in behind the defence following a quick free-kick.

It was to be another of Town's summer arrivals, John-Jules, who would double the advantage early in the second half. The Arsenal loanee finished into an empty net after Chaplin had danced his way into the box and squared the ball to the penalty spot.

Tyreece John-Jules cele AFC Wimbledon (A).JPG

John-Jules' physicality and close control continued to cause all sorts of problems in the Wombles' defence, this time his good work leading to a deflected Chaplin shot that was somehow kept out by Tzanev.

Morsy netted his second and Town's third in spectacular fashion with just under an hour played at Plough Lane. Tzanev had kept the scoreline down for much of the afternoon, but it was his error that led to the third goal, with a misplaced pass finding the Blues skipper, who lobbed the Dons 'keeper with a first-time finish from 40 yards.

The home shot-stopper made amends not long afterwards, denying Ladapo once again after a superb reverse through ball from Chaplin.

Edwin Agbaje, Tommy Hughes and Matt Ward were introduced late on, as Kieran McKenna's side professionally saw out the closing stages of the afternoon.

AFC Wimbledon: Tzanev, Gunter (Mason 79'), Nightingale (Adjei-Hersey 61'), Marsh (Trialist 72'), Trialist, Assal (Bendle 73'), Chislett (Sutcliffe 73'), Pearce (C) (Frimpong 73'), McCormick (Trialist 73'), Currie (Ogundere 61'), Kalambayi (Robinson 73').

Subs: Broome.

Town: Walton, El Mizouni (Ward 82'), Woolfenden, Burgess, Vincent-Young (Agbaje 83'), Evans, Morsy (C), Leigh, Chaplin, John-Jules (Hughes 72'), Ladapo.

Subs: Hayes.

Sam Morsy cele 2 AFC Wimbledon (A).JPG