Southend deserved their draw after they turned the game around with a much improved performance after the break.
The Tractor Boys certainly showed why they started the game two tiers higher than the home side and are some people's favourites to make a real promotion push over the next campaign.
After having most of the early possession which included a near miss by Lee Bowyer, winger Ryan Hall hit a trademark free-kick across the Ipswich goal.
However, on the quarter hour the Suffolk side took the lead with a terrific Lee Martin strike from 18 yards.
The main concern for the Roots Hall support at this stage was the form of year long loanee from Crystal Palace Alassane N’Diaye who looked out of sorts, and after giving the ball away in the middle of the park Bilel Mohsni was called on to stop a goal bound Bowyer effort off the line.
It took 38 minutes before Jemal Johnson shot straight at the Ipswich keeper Marton Fulop from 25 yards out.
And just before the break the Essex boys should have equalised but Anthony Grant volleyed a great Hall cross wide.
Blues boss Paul Sturrock decided to make one change with Mark Phillips replacing N’Diaye allowing Bilel Mohsni to play as a striker and help Neil Harris out who had loooked lost in the first period.
It certainly did the trick as Ipswich turned in a sluggish performance allowing the Shrimpers to take the game to thier higher placed opponents.
First, just after the hour, thMohsni headed a Harris cross on to crossbar from eight yards.
Then on 66 minutes they were level when Sean Clohessy made one of his typical runs down the right followed by a superb cross that Harris headed home with all the class you would expect from the former Millwall legend.
Glenn Morris denied Town sub Jason Scotland with a brave dive at his feet when the former ex-Leeds striker was closing in on goal, and then made a double save from the same player that gavve Mohsni the chance to get involved in off the ball stuff that he had promised not to do, that didn't last long then!
Now well wound up he was booked and Luggy. havingseen enough, took him off for Luke Prosser before he saw red once again in his short Shrimpers career.
The last quarter hour fizzled out with little incident with the home manager far happier with what happened after the break and more happy with the midfielder ha hasn't got in Kalala, than the one he has in N'Diaye.
Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Mohsni (Prosser 78), Barker, Gilbert (Sawyer 79), Kalala, Grant (James-Lewis 86), N’Diaye (Phillips 46), Johnson, Harris, Hall
Subs not used: Coughlan, Bentley, Crawford, Asante & Leonard
Ipswich Town: Town: Fülöp, Edwards (Ainsley 63), Kennedy, Smith, Delaney, Leadbitter, Carson (Ellington 72), Bowyer (Drury 65), Hyam (Healy 65), Chopra (Scotland 25), Martin. Unused: Lee-Barrett, Cresswell.
Shrimpers Pre-Season Schedule
Monday, July 11th - Dartford 0 Southend United 3
Tuesday, July 12th - Great Wakering Rovers 0 Southend United 5
Saturday, July 16th - Dundee 2 Southend United 0
Sunday, July 17th - Raith Rovers 0 Southend United 0
Wednesday, July 20th - Braintree Town 1 Southend United X1 1
Friday, July 22nd - SOUTHEND UNITED 1 IPSWICH TOWN 1
Monday, July 25th - Needham Market (Away), 19.45.
Thursday, July, 28th - NORWICH CITY (HOME), 19.45
Saturday, July 30th - Canvey Island (away), 15.00. (SUFC X1)