A double strike from Ipswich striker Marcus Stewart cancelled out Bolton's
early two-goal advantage as an absorbing play-off semi-final first leg ended all
square at the Reebok Stadium.
Goals from Dean Holdsworth and Eidur Gudjohnsen in the opening half-hour had
put Bolton in charge, but Ipswich overcame the loss of leading scorer David
Johnson and experienced defender Tony Mowbray to fight their way back into the
tie.
The Suffolk side have now given themselves a great chance of reaching the
play-off final at Wembley after three consecutive semi-final disappointments.
The opening goal of the game came from Claus Jensen's corner from the left
after just five minutes.
Former Wimbledon striker Holdsworth, whose goal against Norwich last Sunday
helped Bolton sneak into the play-offs, ghosted in front of two defenders to
plant a header firmly into the top right corner.
The visitors had made the brighter start and should have taken the lead a
minute earlier when Stewart's header sent Johnson clear of the home defence.
But the former Bury striker saw his shot blocked by advancing goalkeeper Jussi
Jaaskelainen and Stewart fluffed a chance to convert the rebound from the edge
of the box.
Icelandic star Gudjohnsen then showed why he has been the subject of transfer
speculation when his exciting run from the halfway line ended in a low shot just
wide of the post.
Bolton were on top, but the visitors still looked dangerous on the break,
especially through the lively Johnson who hooked a 27th-minute effort over the
bar from Mark Venus's cross.
But seconds later the home side doubled their lead when Paul Warhurst's
searching ball found Allan Johnston on the left.
The Scot tricked his way into the box and picked out Gudjohnsen, who finished
with a brilliant low drive into the bottom left corner from the edge of the
penalty area.
To make matters worse for the visitors, Mowbray and Johnson were then forced
out of the action.
Mowbray was suffering from double vision while Johnson sustained a head injury
and was sent to hospital as a precaution.
Ipswich manager George Burley must have been wondering what he had done to
deserve such rotten luck as he sent on Martijn Reuser and Wayne Brown as
replacements.
But just when everything seemed to be going against Burley's side, Stewart
picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and fired a wonderful volley over
Jaaskelainen which the keeper could only palm onto the bar and into the net.
Stewart's goal breathed new life into the visitors and skipper Matt Holland
went close before the break and Stewart himself should have drawn his team level
moments after the restart.
But somehow the former Huddersfield striker managed to blast over the bar from
six yards after being found by Scowcroft's header back across goal.
Seven minutes later, it was Bolton midfielder Claus Jensen's turn to squander
a guilt-edged chance when his mazy run took him through the Ipswich defence, and
having rounder keeper Richard Wright, he lost control of the ball and Venus
gratefully cleared.
Scowcroft then brought a smart save out of Jaaskelainen when his firm drive
from a narrow angle was well-held by the Finnish goalkeeper.
Ipswich were certainly enjoying the lion's share of possession with Scowcroft
a constant threat.
It was Reuser though who fed Stewart to create the visitors' second goal.
Stewart coolly maintained his composure after rounding Jaaskelainen and
carefully placed the ball high into the unguarded left side of the goal to level
the scoreline.
Reuser then almost gave Ipswich the lead with a thundering drive from a narrow
angle, but Jaaskelainen produced a quality one-handed save to turn the ball over
the bar.
Industrious midfielder Jim Magilton also went close in the 77th minute, but
his volley flew narrowly over the crossbar.
Bolton did not manage to create a chance of note after Stewart's leveller as
Ipswich finished the match the stronger side and will be confident of clinching
their place at Wembley when the teams meet again for the second leg at Portman
Road.
Teams
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Bergsson, Fish, Ritchie, Whitlow,
Johansen (Elliott 74), Jensen, Warhurst, Johnston, Holdsworth,
Gudjohnsen (Hansen 60).
Subs Not Used: Banks, Passi.
Booked: Warhurst.
Goals: Holdsworth 5, Gudjohnsen 26.
Ipswich: R. Wright, Wilnis (Croft 84), Thetis,
Mowbray (Brown 27), Venus, Clapham, Scowcroft, Magilton,
Holland, Johnson (Reuser 32), Stewart.
Subs Not Used: Naylor, Branagan.
Booked: Venus.
Goals: Stewart 36, 65.
Att: 18,814
Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville).
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