Ipswich Town began their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 victory over League of Ireland First Division side Shelbourne. A goal in either half from forwards Brett Pitman and Freddie Sears was enough to secure a morale-boosting win in this friendly encounter.
Tractor Boys boss McCarthy elected to field 11 different players in each of the 45 minutes. New signing Adam Webster was not involved because of injury. The same applied to David McGoldrick, who watched the game from the stands. Giles Coke and Myles Kenlock are back in England recovering from their own injury concerns. Daryl Murphy will link up with the squad on Thursday after his exploits at Euro 2016.
Teddy Bishop lined up on the right side of midfield as McCarthy experimented ahead of the new season. He still hopes to strengthen his wide midfield options before they open the season against newly-promoted Barnsley.
It was a positive start by Ipswich, who produced some nice passing moves on a difficult playing surface. Bishop had the first serious chance when heading just wide on a corner kick. The travelling Englishmen continued to control possession and on 28 minutes that pressure told. Pitman thumping home from about 25 yards.
The ex-Bournemouth made almost added a second moments later, but his looping attempt dropped onto the roof of the net.
Eleven changes came at half time, meaning the likes of Jonas Knudsen, Luke Hyam, Freddie Sears and Tommy Smith got a run-out.
The visitors continued on the front foot and Sears soon settled into the game as a live attacking threat. He was put through on goal by Andre Dozzell, but the ex-West Ham youngster lost his footing when about to shoot on goal.
The game then entered a lull as both teams’ fitness levels were being tested to the maximum. Ipswich’s edge in class would see them double their lead on 62 minutes as Sears fired into the near post corner inside a crowded penalty area.
Ipswich continued on the front foot, but Shelbourne would pull a goal back against the run of play with just over ten minutes remaining. Smith handled inside the box, allowing Dylan Grimes to score from the spot kick. Overall, it was perhaps a more convincing win for Ipswich than the tight score suggested.
Ipswich Team (First Half): Gerken, Chambers, Digby, Berra, Robinson, Bru, McDonnell, Bishop, Skuse, Pitman, McLoughlin.
Ipswich Team (Second Half): Bialkowski, Emmanuel, Malarczyk, Smith, Knudsen, Dozzell (Blanchfield, 81), Hyam, Douglas, Stewart, Sears, Morris (Patterson, 81).