Striker Jamie Cook could be the latest recruit in Steve Evans' Reds resolution.

The 28-year-old made a promising debut on trial in Crawley's 5-1 pre-season friendly defeat against a full-strength Ipswich side at Broadfield Stadium last night.

The former Oxford and Stevenage front man played under Evans at Boston but the Reds boss says he will wait a while longer before deciding whether to make Cook his tenth summer signing.

Evans said "I thought Jamie Cook was excellent. He gave us a real presence in a wide area in the first half and more importantly did well when we put him up top.

"He has played there for Oxford, Stevenage and Boston and was a real handful.

"His fitness is something we need to work on but I am sure he will get there. We will have another look at him in the next few days."

Cook only had to wait three minutes for a taste of the action after starting on the bench.

He came on for Lee Blackburn, who suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury which ruled him out of the first two weeks of pre-season.

Cook made a good first impression, releasing Guy Madjo with a neat pass with his first touch, and looked impressive on the ball throughout.

He was not the only Reds player to catch the eye, particularly in a first half which the new-look home side controlled for long periods.

Central midfielder Thomas Pinault followed up his cultured debut in the pre-season opener against MK Dons with another skilful display.

Defender Jamie Stevens looks another good signing on the evidence of his commanding performance in the centre of defence.

The 18-year old from Boston had the better of Ipswich's new striker Pablo Counago and made a wonderful sliding block to deny strike partner Alan Lee after 20 minutes.

His only mistake was giving away a cheap free kick which led to the Championship club taking the lead three minutes before the break.

Stevens lunged at Gary Roberts and new signing Tommy Miller beat the wall and found the bottom corner with a superb curling effort.

The goal was harsh on Reds, who had failed to turn their first-half possession into scoring opportunities. The closest they came up until then was two shots from distance from midfielder Steve Evans.

Crawley suffered another injury concern early in the second half when striker Jon-Paul Pittman hobbled off with what looked like a hamstring problem.

He went down seconds after missing a golden chance when he was sent clean on goal and shot straight at keeper Neil Alexander.

The visitors doubled their advantage a minute later when Miller slotted past Ashley Bayes from the edge of the box.

Reds hit back on the hour when Madjo converted a penalty after Cook was brought down by Alexander.

But the Tractor Boys restored their two-goal cushion three minutes later with a spot-kick of their own.

Glenn Wilson was adjudged to have pushed Jamie Peters and Miller completed his hat-trick from 12 yards.

Jim Magilton's side gave the scoreline a flattering look by scoring two more in quick succession.

Lee blasted into the roof of the net from close range on 67 minutes and then slid home the fifth six minutes later after good work by Billy Clarke.

Evans was unhappy with the result and locked his players in the changing room for half an hour after the final whistle. He said: "Lee Blackburn tweaked his hamstring but should be okay and Pittman felt his groin but should be all right as well.

"I thought we looked lively in the first half and played with tempo and passion but in the second it was evident there was more work to do."

Crawley: Bayes, Wilson, Lovegrove, Stevens, Thomas, Thompson, Evans, Pinault, Madjo, Pittman, Blackburn. Subs: Scully, Judge, Cook, Bulman, Woozley, Vieira, Bull, Nayee Ipswich: Alexander, Menessou, Wilnis, Miller, Bruce, Navas, Peters, Legwinski, Counago, Lee, Roberts. Subs: Garvan, Supple, Clarke, Walters, Harding, O'Callaghan, Synnott Referee: Peter Melin.

Attendance: 1,043.