AN Ed Upson penalty just before half-time secured a derby win for Ipswich Reserves at a snowy Carrow Road.
City had started with Jens Berthel Askou and Michael Spillane in defence, both getting important game-time after absences through injury and both playing an hour against Town.
The first real opportunity of the game came for the visitors after 15 minutes when Shane O'Connor found space on the left and forced City 'keeper Declan Rudd into a save over his bar.
On 21 minutes City had their best move of the match when Danny Kelly held the ball up well on the edge of Town's box and played in the on-rushing George Francomb, but the young left-back could only put his curling effort wide of Brian Murphy's far post.
Town nearly took the lead on 31 minutes - Reggie Lambe finding Carlos Edwards on the right ,but he placed his shot just wide of Rudd's right-hand post.
Two minutes later Paul McVeigh made a break in the Ipswich half, but under pressure he could only put an attempt straight at Murphy.
Five minutes before the break City won a corner and Askou met the delivery but couldn't get enough power on his header and Murphy made a comfortable collect.
But just two minutes later Town were awarded a penalty after a combination of Rudd and David Stephens brought down Lambe in the box. Ed Upson stepped up and sent Rudd the wrong way to give the visitors the lead.
Just before the break City looked to respond when Francomb toe-poked an effort just wide, but it was Town who went in 1-0 up at half-time.
Half-time: City 0 Town 1
Second-half kicked off with no changes for either team.
Although City had the majority of possession early in the first part of the half, they were unable break down Ipswich.
Just after the hour mark the Canaries made a double substitution - Remy Gordon and Patrick Drmola replacing Spillane and Askou.
Tom Adeyemi had a shot charged down after work by Drmola on the edge of the box, the substitute controlling the ball with his chest and laying it off to the young midfielder.
On 70 minutes Town went close again, Rudd forced to palm out an O'Connor cross from the left, which fell to Edwards who blazed his shot over the bar.
Lambe went close again for the visitors before Drmola tried his luck from distance but his shot was not powerful enough to trouble Murphy.
With 10 minutes left the Canaries had a narrow escape when the ball was loose in the six-yard box, but with several Ipswich players vying for an opportunity Rudd stepped in to collect and relieve the pressure.
On 84 minutes Ipswich did have the ball in the back of the net again but the left-back O'Connor was found to be in an offside position and his headed effort was disallowed.
And it was the Ipswich defender who was again causing problems when he forced Rudd into another save in the closing minutes of the game.
Final score: City 0 Town 1
CITY: Rudd, Spillane (Gordon 62), Francomb, D.Stephens, Askou (Drmola 62), Gill, Adeyemi, Lathrope, McVeigh, D.Kelly, Dawkin. Subs not used: Matthews (GK), Clarke, Ball.
Ipswich: Murphy, Wright, O'Connor, Cawley (Hyam 64), Eastman, Ainsley, Edwards, Quinn, Lambe, Upson (Clark 77), Yao. Subs not used: Thatcher, McLoughlin (GK), Griffiths.
Attendance: 341
Pictures courtesy of Richard Phillips
