It was an entertaining first half at Kingsmeadow, with both sides showing intensity from the very start.

Ipswich took the lead in the 13th minute through Luca Fletcher, but Shumaira Mheuka quickly equalised with a powerful close-range strike, his seventh goal of the season.

Despite creating further chances, Chelsea went into half-time 2-1 down after Tudor Mendel-Idowu capitalised on a stoppage-time corner.

Ipswich started the second half strongly and extended their lead through Ashley Boatswain. Chelsea responded with a goal from Harrison Murray-Campbell, but it wasn’t enough. In stoppage time, Ipswich secured the win with a late strike from Rio Oudnie-Morgan, ending Chelsea’s Premier League 2 winning streak.

Intense start

Chelsea started the game on the front foot, applying pressure from the very first whistle. Reggie Walsh had the first glance at goal with a powerful strike from outside the area, but it just sailed over the crossbar - a clear warning to Ipswich that the Blues meant business on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Ipswich quickly responded. Mendel-Idowu unleashed a powerful shot on target, but Max Merrick, making his first appearance for the Under-21s this season, reacted brilliantly to secure the ball and keep the Blues level.

Walsh went close again as the action swung to the opposite end, only for his low shot to be comfortably saved by Ipswich keeper Woody Williamson Andrews.

Sam Rak-Sakyi, making his first start of the season, also tested the Tractor Boys' defence with a fierce low drive that skimmed the face of goal. It was an early indication that this match would be fast, frantic and full of chances.

Ipswich strike first

Despite Chelsea’s early opportunities, it was our opponents who drew first blood. Abube Onuchukwu delivered a teasing cross that fell perfectly to Fletcher, who powered a header into the net. Moments later, Fletcher went close again, only for Merrick to time his intervention perfectly, denying a second goal and keeping the Blues in the game.

We nearly equalised shortly after. Ato Ampah made a superb run down the flank before sending in a dangerous cross. Dujuan Richards connected with a powerful volley, but an Ipswich defender blocked it, keeping the Tractor Boys in front.

Fletcher continued to threaten on the counter, but his effort sailed over as we breathed a sigh of relief.

Super Shim

Our equaliser felt inevitable, and it came in style. A quick Under-21s link-up saw Richards pick out Genesis Antwi, who smartly squared the ball across the area. Captain and striker Mheuka got on the end of it, smashing the ball into the net from close range to level the score at Kingsmeadow.

We pressed for more. Ampah’s venomous strike from a tight angle went just over the bar, while Antwi came close to scoring again after a delicate chip from Mheuka hit the post.

The Blues were finding space, creating chances and putting Ipswich under pressure as the first half drew to a close.

Work to do

However, Ipswich struck late in the first half. During stoppage time, Antwi went down with a head knock, leaving Chelsea temporarily with 10 men. From the resulting corner, Mendel-Idowu hooked the ball into the net, giving Ipswich the lead heading into the break. Chelsea went in 2-1 down, with plenty of work to do in the second half.

After the interval, Ipswich struck once more. They remained lively from the restart, and Somto Boniface delivered a teasing cross that found striker Boatswain, who finished to extend their lead.

We pressed to respond. Ollie Harrison stepped up to take a free-kick after Walsh was brought down just outside the area. His whipped effort looked dangerous, but a deflection off an opposition defender prevented the ball from finding the net, and the keeper was able to make the save.

Not giving up

We nearly pulled one back through a brilliant team move. A corner from Landon Emenalo found Mheuka, who made a sharp cutback for Walsh. His right-footed strike from the centre of the box flew just over the bar.

We eventually found the net through defender Murray-Campbell. Another corner saw Mheuka do well to get on the end of the ball and cut it back, allowing Murray-Campbell to strike home and bring the score to 3-2, making the closing stages of the fixture tense.

As the clock ticked down, the Blues continued to press. Substitute Jesse Derry unleashed a powerful effort, but Williamson Andrews was equal to it. Almost immediately after, in injury time, Emenalo whipped in a dangerous cross, and Mheuka’s close-range header just lifted over the bar. The final moments were nail-biting for the Blues.

However, Ipswich struck once more before the final whistle. Oudnie-Morgan collected the ball from Chelsea’s keeper and finished with a strong strike to make it 4-2, leaving us with a late heartbreak despite a valiant fightback.

What's next

We turn our attention to the EFL Vertu Trophy next, as we travel to face Northampton Town at Sixfields Stadium on Tuesday 23 September, with kick-off at 7pm.

The teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Max Merrick; Genesis Antwi (Richard Olise 61), Harrison Murray-Campbell, Kaiden Wilson, Landon Emenalo; Ollie Harrison, Sam Rak-Sakyi (Harrison McMahon 61); Dujuan Richards (Jesse Derry 54), Reggie Walsh, Ato Ampah (Ryan Kavuma-McQueen 54); Shumaira Mheuka (c)
Unused sub: Freddy Bernal
Scorers: Mheuka 24, Murray-Campbell 73
Booked: Murray-Campbell 29, Walsh 78, Kavuma-McQueen 83

Ipswich Town: Woody Williamson Andrews, Daniel Babb, Somto Boniface, Corbin Mthunzi, Walker Shabazz-Edwards, Abube Onuchukwu, Tudor Mendel-Idowu, Ryan Carr (c), Ashley Boatswain (James Mauge 67), Luca Fletcher (Rio Oudnie-Morgan 72), Leon Ayinde (Josh Pitts 67)
Unused subs: George Barrett, Leon Elliott
Scorers: Fletcher 13, Mendel-Idowu 45+4, Boatswain 53, Oudnie-Morgan 90+4
Booked: Mthunzi 64, Onuchukwu 69, Oudnie-Morgan 90+2