Billy Kee’s sole header was enough to see Accrington Stanley reach the fourth round of the FA Cup and condemning Ipswich to another year without an FA Cup win.
The last time Ipswich tasted victory in the competition was eight years ago against Blackpool in a 2-1 win and they have been eliminated in their last four ties by lower league opposition.
That dismal run continued when Kee converted Ben Richards-Everton’s header back across goal from a Sean McConville free kick in the 76th minute.
In the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides, Accrington could have been ahead much earlier through outstanding midfielder Jordan Clark, who forced Ipswich keeper Bartosz Bialkowski to work on three occasions.
In the 20th minute, the 25-year-old directed a low drive from the right at Bialkowski’s near post, which the Polish keeper comfortably collected.
Ipswich’s only real chance in the first half came through Freddie Sears, who sprinted at goal on his own after citing a lack of options for support. The 29-year-old cut inside from the right flank and aimed for the bottom corner at the far post, but Stanley keeper Connor Ripley was equal to his effort.
Clark caused the visiting defence problems as the first half neared to a close with his next two opportunities. Bialkowski denied him again five minutes from the break before his last ditch header in added time fell wide.
Paul Lambert’s Tractor Boys improved in the second half with the introduction of Teddy Bishop. The Ipswich veteran dragged an effort across the face of goal and on his next attempt, he tried his luck from distance but failed to find the target.
After Kee’s match-winning goal, Sears had two chances to grab a hero’s goal in the last 10 minutes with his first attempt denied by Ripley and seeing his second effort roll agonisingly wide.
Accrington meanwhile, who have never made it past the fourth round, celebrated the win with drums and whistles as the victory earned them a prize of £135,000, which is five percent of their annual revenue.
After the re-start, Stanley almost gifted Town a goal with keeper Ripley scrambling back to stop a header from his own defender Richards-Everton crossing the line.
In a game of limited clear-cut chances, Middlesbrough loan stopper Ripley produced a superb save to keep out a powerfully hit strike from Jon Nolan after 70 minutes.
Stanley finally broke the deadlock, with Kee celebrating his ninth of the campaign to pile more misery on Town boss Paul Lambert, whose side sit bottom of the second tier.
Franciscanos
57
Lambert is absolutely right about the state of a Club I have followed for 60 years....but he is aiming his criticism in the wrong direction....the Club has been destroyed by the Owner not the players....they have sold off every promising player in the last 10 years, the Owner is only using the club as a money machine...he should never have been allowed to own the Club in the first place....but they are almost certainly destined for League One, very sadly, and only one person to blame, not the managers, not the remaining players....worst Owner in the Football League....until the remaining fans find a way to be rid of him, they will continue to decline....