Ipswich 3 - 2 Milton Keynes Dons: Luke Varney seals late win for Ipswich against already-relegated MK Dons

Posted Sunday, May 01, 2016 by PA

Luke Varney's 90th-minute winner gave Ipswich a 3-2 win over MK Dons in an entertaining dead rubber in the Sky Bet Championship.

Three times Ipswich led with David McGoldrick and Brett Pitman scoring in each half but they were pegged back by Alex Revell twice.

After a slow start, Ipswich created the first real chance of note on 12 minutes when young full-backs Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock combined, the latter heading just over.

Four minutes later, the deadlock was broken by the home side. Liam Feeney's tenacious wing play down the left saw his low cross turned across goal by Freddie Sears and McGoldrick calmly found the corner with a neat cushioned volley.

It was almost 2-0 in the 19th minute when MK Dons were indebted to Charlie Burns for a smart double save to deny McGoldrick and then Teddy Bishop after more good work by Emmanuel and the debutant Kenlock.

MK Dons finally fashioned a chance midway through the first half after Daniel Powell cut in from the right but his shot evaded the far post.

Out of nothing, MK Dons equalised in first half stoppage time and it was all of Ipswich's making.

McGoldrick, the best player on the pitch, had two horror moments, gifting possession to Josh Murphy and then bringing down Samir Carruthers in the penalty area in his attempt to win the ball back. Revell made no mistake from 12 yards, sending Dean Gerken the wrong way.

The second half started with a dangerous Josh Murphy free-kick for the visitors, prodded just wide of his own near post by McGoldrick, who was involved in everything at both ends of the pitch.

Carruthers then went close with a low shot that was turned away by Gerken as MK Dons began the restart brighter.

Ipswich were starting to show signs of life in the final third and Bishop was unfortunate to see a stretched half volley fly just wide in the 61st minute.

They went even closer two minutes later when Sears' left-foot shot was arrowing into the far post but Burns pulled off his best save of the afternoon.

Ipswich restored their lead in the 69th minute when Pitman, who had only been on the pitch for seven minutes, rose well to bury Kevin Bru's free-kick into the corner of the net.

But five minutes later, back came MK Dons when Revell ghosted in at the far post to guide Murphy's free-kick into the net as the home defence stood stationery.

Just as it looked like both sides would have to settle for a draw, Ipswich clinched the three points in the 90th minute when Kenlock's teasing cross was firmly headed in by the unmarked Varney.