Over 23,000 packed inside the stadium in light of the club's £5 ticket offer but few could have expected just what good value that would turn out to be! With Ipswich at the top of the table and the Potters in third, a close match was predicted with neither team expected to give much away.
The team was as expected with Karl Henry coming into midfield with Lewis Neal out injured. New signing Steve Guppy could only make the bench. The opening to the match gave an indication as to what was to come as Darren Bent almost opened the scoring after just 2 minutes. Luckily Ed De Goey was equal to his powerful shot and he managed to parry the ball for a corner kick.
Next it was Stoke's turn to threaten as Gifton Noel-Williams flicked a header against the top of the bar after 5 minutes before strong penalty claims were turned down by the referee in the 25th minute. Richard Naylor handled the ball to deny Akinbiyi a goal-scoring chance and it seemed as though City had good claims for a penalty and a possible sending off. However, pity was shown on the tractor boys and only a free kick and yellow card were shown. Inevitably, the free kick was wasted.
Ipswich very nearly took the lead two minutes later. Darel Russell was chasing back to his own goal with Shefki Kuqi applying pressure. Russell tried to pass back to De Goey but it was weak and Kuqi beat De Goey to the ball to lob over and as he looked certain to place into an empty net, Russell came out of nowhere to make a superb last ditch tackle and make up for his own error.
Ipswich did take the lead after 41 minutes and although it had been coming, the manner in which City conceded was disappointing. A corner kick into the area was met by an unmarked Jason De Vos who couldn't believe his luck as he headed home.
Luckily Wayne Thomas was on hand to ensure City went in at half time rather fourtunate to be all-square. It was our turn to score from a corner, this time from Clive Clarke and Thomas headed home well. City had not been at their best and were thankful for this goal.
The second half did not let up and Noel-Williams again hit the bar with a header from a Dave Brammer corner. However, it was Town who regained their lead in the 62nd minute.A superb move highlighted why Town are at the top and it was completed by Ian Westake who sidefooted home past Steve Simonsen who had only just replaced the injured and not-too-happy De Goey.
This could have signalled victory for the visitors but fight and spirit are two things certainly not short at the moment and there should have been an equaliser within a minute. The Ipswich defence were caught by the pace of Akinbiyi and he found himself with a clear run to goal. However, for some reason he decided to shoot from around 12 yards when he could have taken the ball much closer. His shot was fairly easily saved by Kelvin Davis' feet and it was a huge let off for the visitors.
Luckily, Wayne Thomas was on hand again. Steve Guppy had just come on to replace Dave Brammer and from his corner, Thomas raced in at the far post to power home and set up a tense finale. Things were made even more tense when John Halls was stupidly sent off for two bookable offences after 82 minutes, the second of which was around 75 yards from danger.
City could not have been blamed for holding what they had now but they wanted the win. Gerry Taggart hit long into the area and a mix up between defender and goalkeeper somehow left Akinbiyi for the easiest of chances as he tapped into an empty net. Cue 'POWERADE' celebrations!
The final minutes then passed off without incident as the Potters held on to go top of the table at Ipswich's expense. A fantastic game will hopefully see many of the fans taking up the cheap seats offer returning for Saturday's match versus Notts Forest.