DERBY honours ended even with a 1-1 draw at Portman Road in this afternoon's Totesport.com Combination match between Norwich City Reserves and their Ipswich Town counterparts.

City took a first-half lead through Cody McDonald's 24th minute deflected effort, before Ipswich fashioned an equaliser eight minutes from time - substitute Ronan Murray heading home a Reggie Lambe cross.

The match saw defender Michael Nelson and midfielders Owain Tudur Jones and Matt Gill all start the game as they continue their rehabilitation from injury.

Town fielded a fairly inexperienced side, with defender Pim Balkestein and midfielder Owen Garvan the only players with first team experience this season and three triallists - Pape Faye, Ibrahima Faye and Ragnar Leosson. Former City triallist and youth player Aaron Lee-Barratt was also in goal for Ipswich today.

Going into the game City were sitting fifth in the Totesport.com Combination - East Division, two places and one point behind Town.

Commenting on the game, City coach Ian Crook said: "To be honest it was a fair result. We took the lead through Cody (McDonald) and Declan (Rudd) made a couple of good saves. We made some changes after the break and they started to put us under a bit of pressure.

"We had a great chance to make it 2-0 and their 'keeper made a good save and then they got the equaliser.

"These games serve a purpose for several people - for Nels, Owain and Gilly some important game time, which they desperately need and for the younger boys to be involved and they did well again. As with all derby games it was competitive and it was good to come away from home and get something."

CITY: Rudd, Brindley, Habergham, Stephens, Nelson (Lathrope 55), Tudur Jones, Adeyemi (Osemwegie 82), Gill, McDonald (Clarke 55), Kelly, Dawkin. Subs not used: Steer (GK), Gordon.

TOWN: Lee-Barratt, Ainsley, I Faye, Hyam, Brown, Balkestein, Lambe, Garvan, P Faye (Murray 66), Leosson, Upson (Dunbar 46, Cawley 82). Subs not used: McLoughlin, Eastman.