Sport

Blackburn denied by string of fine saves

FIRST division Ipswich dumped Premiership champions Blackburn out of the FA Cup with a 115th minute goal from substitute Paul…

Wed Jan 17 1996 - 00:00

FIRST division Ipswich dumped Premiership champions Blackburn out of the FA Cup with a 115th minute goal from substitute Paul Mason.

Mason took the glory but there were many heroes for the first division outfit, notably teenage keeper Richard Wright and defenders Klaus Thomsen and Tony Mowbray, who between them shut out the menace of England striker Alan Shearer.

Simon Milton gave an early indication that the visitors would be no pushover with a speculative effort which was just too high from 30 yards and striker Ian Marshall was also just off target with a volley after a slick interchange of passes.

Blackburn's Stuart Ripley headed Henning Berg's cross goalwards but Wright made the first of a string of fine saves. His next duty was to parry a fiercely driven cross shot from Shearer, recovering to smother Mike Newell's effort to poke the rebound home.

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Ipswich almost shook Blackburn five minutes from half-time when Gus Hulenbeek's cross found its way to Marshall at the back post but Tim Flowers scrambled his effort away.

Shearer did have the ball in the net from Ripley's corner but his effort was ruled out for a push.

Shearer had an opportunity to break the deadlock after 57 minutes but his effort reflected Blackburn's growing anxiety, blazing over from 12 yards.

Newell had an even better chance on 65 minutes. Ripley fed David Batty down the Blackburn right and his inch-perfect cross was met first time by Newell, who could only watch in disbelief as Wright somehow turned the effort round the post from point-blank range.

Ipswich should have taken the lead on 70 minutes when Coleman's slip let in Mathie, but Flowers narrowed the angle and blocked the Scotsman's shot as he momentarily hesitated. Five minutes from time Shearer thundered a free kick against Wright's bar from 25 yards and Marshall cleared Gallacher's follow-up.

Teenager keeper Wright denied Gallacher with a brilliant reflex save five minutes into extra time. Gallacher looked a certain scorer as the ball ricocheted into his path at the corner of the penalty area but his effort was somehow tipped wide by the 18-year-old.

Ipswich took the lead few could begrudge them five minutes before the seemingly inevitable penalty shoot-out When Mathie skipped past Hendry down the left and his cross was laid back by Neil Gregory for Mason to blast home.