Sport

Ipwich come back from the dead

Extra-time goals from Martijn Reuser and Jamie Clapham saw Ipswich through to the play-off final just when they thought they …

By MARTIN THORPE
Thu May 18 2000 - 01:00

Extra-time goals from Martijn Reuser and Jamie Clapham saw Ipswich through to the play-off final just when they thought they were going to be knocked out for the fourth season running. A Jim Magilton volley in injury time brought Ipswich back from the dead in a riveting and bad-tempered match that saw three penalties for the home side and two Bolton players sent off.

Bolton took the lead after six minutes when Ipswich goalkeeper Richard Wright was at fault, flapping at Michael's Johansen's high cross. The ball fell to Dean Holdsworth and he poked the ball home from close range.

David Johnson shot just wide before Ipswich equalised controversially. After a one-two with Johnson, Magilton went down in the area under a challenge by Paul Warhurst and the referee pointed to the spot. Magilton tucked away the penalty to bring Ipswich level but on 40 minutes but Bolton regained the lead when Holdsworth curled in a low shot from a free kick just inside the far post.

But more controversy was at hand. Ipswich striker Marcus Stewart went down in the area under a challenge by Paul Ritchie and the referee awarded another penalty. Again Bolton players were incensed, five of them chasing the referee. One had to be pulled off by a steward. Magilton's penalty was saved.

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Three minutes into the second half Ipswich hit home - Magilton again the scorer.

A minute later Bolton took the lead again when Allan Johnston unleashed a corker of a shot which Wright knew little about as it flew into the top corner.

In injury time Magilton hit the all-important equaliser and Mike Whitlow was sent off minutes later. Another penalty in extra-time, this time taken by Clapham, put Ipswich ahead for the first time in the tie and Reuser sealed it after Robbie Elliott was sent off.

IPSWICH: R Wright, Croft, Brown (Reuser 65), Mowbray, Venus, Clapham, Holland, Magilton, Scowcroft (Naylor 79), Johnson, Stewart. Subs Not Used: Branagan, Thetis, Wilnis. Goals: Magilton 18 pen, 49, 90, Clapham 94 pen, Reuser 109.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Bergsson, Fish, Ritchie, Whitlow, Johansen (Phillips 90), Jensen, Elliott, Warhurst (Passi 72), Johnston, Holdsworth (Hansen 101). Subs Not Used: Banks, Farrelly. Sent Off: Whitlow (90), Elliott (97). Booked: Warhurst, Ritchie, Holdsworth, Johnston, Elliott, Johansen, Fish, Phillips, Passi. Goals: Holdsworth 6, 39, Johnston 50.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington).