Liverpool 1 Ipswich Town 1: IPSWICH Town had to endure more penalty woe as they were sent out of the Worthington Cup by Liverpool. In November Town crashed out of the UEFA Cup on penalties and at Anfield spot kicks spoiled Town's cup hopes again.

Liverpool 1 Ipswich Town 1

IPSWICH Town had to endure more penalty woe as they were sent out of the Worthington Cup by Liverpool.

In November Town crashed out of the UEFA Cup on penalties and at Anfield spot kicks spoiled Town's cup hopes again.

A brave Blues' performance was almost good enough to give Town a memorable win on Merseyside but a second half penalty from El-Hadji Diouf levelled the scores after Tommy Miller had given Town the lead.

After a goalless period of extra time there were more problems from the penalty spot as Ipswich lost out 5-4 with Jamie Clapham the only player to miss.

In an entertaining match Town took the lead on 16 minutes when Darren Bent went racing away down the right for Ipswich.

Bent's cross was cleared by Abel Xavier but only as far as Miller who stroked the ball into the net.

Town were well in control until the half time break and could have been two up when Pablo Counago was sent clear of the Liverpool defence but when one-on-one with Jerzy Dudek he failed to take the chance.

Town continued to defend well in the opening moments of the second period and appeared to be defending comfortably until a mistake by Mark Venus let Liverpool back into the game.

On 56 minutes Venus let the ball run past him before making a desperate lunge which brought down El-Hadji Diouf in the Ipswich box. Diouf picked himself up and knocked home the penalty which brought Liverpool level.

It was all Liverpool now as the men from Merseyside tried to find a winner. They came close just a minute after scoring when Neil Mellor got clear of the Ipswich defence but hit the post with his shot past Andy Marshall.

Town hit the post themselves with just seven minutes remaining when Bent met a free-kick from Venus and flicked his header against the post.

It was end to end stuff in extra time as both sides aimed to clinch the win but neither side could find the decisive goal and the game was destined for penalties.

The draw for the fifth round of the competition was made before the end of extra time with both sides knowing that penalties would decide who would meet Aston Villa at Villa Park.

In the end Clapham made the decisive mistake blasting his spot-kick against the bar.

Diouf was left to seal Liverpool's passage through to round five knocking in the Red's final penalty and confirming that Town and penalties just don't go together.