LESS than 600 Ipswich Town supporters witnessed the end of an era last night as Ipswich Reserves lost 2-1 to Charlton.With the Blues being ousted from the Premier Reserve League at the end of the season it was the last time fans are likely to see the second string at Portman Road.

LESS than 600 Ipswich Town supporters witnessed the end of an era last night as Ipswich Reserves lost 2-1 to Charlton.

With the Blues being ousted from the Premier Reserve League at the end of the season it was the last time fans are likely to see the second string at Portman Road.

Ipswich are set to be play the majority of their matches at their training ground at Rushmere, although the reserves could also use non-league grounds in the area and take the club into the community.

In Town's last home reserve game of the season a confidence-boosting goal for Dean Bowditch was not enough to salvage anything out of Charlton.

The Londoners went ahead after six minutes when Gonzalo Sorondo got ahead of Vemund Brekke Skard to head in a Lloyd Sam corner.

The Addicks enjoyed a good spell of possession, but Town slowly clawed their way back into the game with sharp attacking play and equalised in the 28th minute.

The goal came from the persistence of Danny Haynes who got the better of young international defender Sorondo before laying the ball on a plate for Bowditch to score with a simple finish.

Bowditch went close with a 25-yard drive, while Liam Trotter had a pile-driver deflected across goal for a corner.

Academy defender Luke Webster saved a certain goal with a block to deny Sam six yards out after good work from Premiership striker Jay Bothroyd.

Charlton regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when Alex Varney somehow squeezed the ball in after a scramble to beat Lewis Price's despairing dive.

With speedsters Dean McDonald and Jamie Peters playing wide, Town had plenty of flair, but little end product.

Boston manager Steve Evans was in the stands and possible having a look at McDonald while skipper Scott Mitchell gave a steady show at central defence.

Chris Casement playing at right back was significant with Saturday's first team selection in mind although the 18-year has enjoyed better matches.

The Blues enjoyed most of the second half play, but rarely tested Darren Randolph in the Charlton goal.

Bothroyd tried his luck with a 25-yard free kick, but Price was comfortably behind it in a rare moment of action for him.

The Academy side has a game scheduled for Portman Road on May 1, with Manchester United due to be the opponents in a special open day match.

Ipswich Town Res: Price, Casement, Webster, Skard, Mitchell, Krause, Peters (Leabon, 75) Trotter, Bowditch, McDonald (Knights, 75) Haynes. Subs not used: Fenn, Petursson.

Charlton Athletic Res: Randolph, Sankofa, Youga (Ashton, 72) El Karkouri, Sorondo, Fortune, Sam (John, 80) Gislason, Bothroyd, Varney, Wright (Weston, 72) Subs not used: Basey, Woolley.

Referee: S Beck.

Attendance: 579.