By Aston
October 24 2004

Ipswich town allowed a two goal slipped against Watford yesterday but still moved up a place in the league thanks to other results.

Watford 2-2 Town: Report

Ipswich town allowed a two goal slipped against Watford yesterday but still moved up a place in the league thanks to other results.

Ipswich had complete control in the first half with Watford goalkeeper Richard Lee the only reason Town didn’t have a three goal lead before half time.

The first real test of Lee’s ability came in the 11th minute when Tommy Miller’s right footed volley had to be push round the post by the Watford keeper.

Two minutes later Miller was trying his luck from about just out side the area again with a volley Sean Dyche blocking his effort sending the ball out for a throw.

Shefki Kuqi was next to test Lee’s ability, his left footed shot was tipped round the post and out for a corner by which Kevin Horlock took which resulted in a Watford break away leading the home sides first real chance of the game, Helguson heading comfortably in to the arms of Lewis Price.

Watford manager Ray Lewington was forced to replace Neil Cox in the 23rd minute because of an injury, Ashley Young coming on to replace him.

Darren Bent joined the club of players testing Richard Lee, Bent’s right footed shot like many others was tipped wide by Lee. Bent tested Lee again in the 28th minute his shot was sent into the arms of Lee.

Danny Webber was the next Watford player to have a crack at the Ipswich goal but he some how sent his shot over the bar from 6 yards. Neil Ardley also had a crack at goal Lewis Price gathering with ease.

James Chambers was the first player of the afternoon to find his way into the referees book his foul on Shefki Kuqi earned him a booking for unsporting behaviour.

Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi both had chances stopped by Lee, Bent’s right footed shot was only parried by the Watford shot stopper and Shefki Kuqi’s follow up effort was blocked by Lee and cleared by the Watford defence.

Dominic Blizzard had an ambitious 40 yard effort saved by Lewis Price as the first half entered stoppage time. Goalless at half time.

Five minutes after the restart Ian Westlake had a crack at getting the ball past Richard Lee and succeed, Westlake got on the end of Lewis Price’s long clearance and calmly slotted the ball past Richard Lee to give town the lead 1-0.

Kevin Horlock joined James Chambers in the referees book after a tackle on Ashley Young, Horlock booked for unsporting behaviour.

Darren Bent had a couple of good chances kept out by the inform Lee, but Lee was unable to stop Bent doubling Town’s advantage in the 62nd minute Ian Westlake’s pass was put away by Bents right foot into the bottom left corner. 2-0 to Town.

Strait away after the goal both sides made substitutions, Watford took off Danny Webber and Blizzard and replace them with Dyer and Bouazza and Ipswich replace Pablo Couñago with Dean Bowditch.

The substitutions must of worked because soon after there was a third goal in the game, thing is it was Watford who got it, Towns inability to defend set pieces caused problems again, Heidar Helguson heading in Neil Ardley’s corner kick to make it 2-1 with 25 minutes left.

Seven minutes later and another set piece and it was 2-2, Hameur Bouazza tapped in Neil Ardley’s free kick after Lewis Price was unable to hold on to the wet ball.

Both sides had chances to win the game in the closing stages but it ended 2-2 Town move up to third in the league thanks to Wolves who beat QPR 2-1.

Watford Squad: Lee, Chambers, Cox, Dyche, Darlington, Ardley, Mahon, Doyley, Blizzard, Webber, Helguson, Chamberlain, Dyer, Smith, Bouazza, Young

Ipswich Town squad: Darren Bent, Dean Bowditch, Aidan Collins, Pablo Couñago, Jason De Vos, Drissa Diallo, Kevin Horlock, Shefki Kuqi, Jim Magilton, Tommy Miller, Scott Mitchell, Richard Naylor, Lewis Price, Matt Richards, Ian Westlake, Fabian Wilnis.

	Watford 2	Ipswich Town 2
Yellow cards	Chambers	Westlake Horlock
Red Cards	None	None
Goals	Helguson (67) Bouazza (73)	Westlake (50) Bent (63)
Substitutions	Young on for Cox (23) Bouazza and Dyer on for Blizzard and Webber (64)	Bowditch on for Couñago (64)
Attendance: 15,894

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