SMILES of victory turned to anger, as more than 100 Town fans scored an own goal when they fell foul of traffic wardens.A team of three wardens went out just before 3pm, to provide a bittersweet afternoon for those parked illegally along West End Road near the Portman Road football ground.

By Tracey Sparling

SMILES of victory turned to anger, as more than 100 Town fans scored an own goal when they fell foul of traffic wardens.

A team of three wardens went out just before 3pm, to provide a bittersweet afternoon for those parked illegally along West End Road near the Portman Road football ground.

Ironically while a team of wardens swooped in West End Road a car was left on double yellow lines in Orford Street for two hours without the owner being given a ticket said a resident of the area.

Many fans had parked on the grass verges and pavements, either to escape paying for parking, or because there was no space left elsewhere - Cardinal Park and other nearby car parks were packed with cars.

However today they are left to pay the penalty.

By 4.30pm on Saturday, all 40 cars on the left hand side of West End Road heading into town, had little white tickets fluttering under their windscreen wipers.

On the opposite side of the road, the majority of the 80 cars parked on the grass verge had a ticket.

It is not the first time traffic wardens have cracked down on Town fans parking illegally on match days in West End Road.

In September 2000 supporters who went to the Aston Villa game were left with fines to pay after leaving their cars in the same place. On that occasion 60 tickets were handed out by the authorities.

After the latest tickets were handed out fans were left crestfallen to discover the fixed penalties especially after the joy of beating Tottenham 2-1.

In Ipswich, some fans said they thought the 'no parking' signs on the road applied only to the road, and not the verge.

Tractor Boys fan Tony Chouler, 45, was not happy.

The carpenter from Soham in Cambridgeshire, said: "I'm going to contest this. Where are the no parking signs?

"It's a travesty of justice. Are they short of money or something?

"I parked here all season, and last season and it was ok. The authorities don't stick to rules. If it's a rule it should be adhered to right across the board."

Margaret Ling from Tudor Road, Sudbury, discovered her ticket after she'd been in town shopping, while her husband Robert watched his favourite team play.

She said: "This is the second time this has happened to Robert and I don't expect he'll be too pleased when he comes out of the match. He actually said to me 'it'll be okay because they never issue tickets!'

"It's not as if we're causing an obstruction because we're on the grass. Everybody does it."

Martin Anderson from Downing Close in Bury St Edmunds had brought his son James, 16, and daughter Kate, 13, to the match.

James found the ticket as they returned to the car.

Martin said: "I've been coming here for eight years and even followed the team to Milan. But a £40 ticket makes it an expensive business to come and support Ipswich Town."

Tim Phillips, 32, from Hornchurch in Essex, said: "I think the cars on the grass were ok -it looked like the ones which touched the pavement, like mine, got tickets. It's a ridiculous situation. They are just trying to make a few quid out of people.

"I've seen people park on the verges in other roads in Ipswich, and they don't get tickets."

One Tottenham supporter, who had driven from London with a car full of away supporters, said: "We lost the game, and then it completely spoiled my day to come back and find this."