Colchester United Youths 0 Ipswich Town Youths 0 (Ipswich won 4-2 on penalties) Ipswich Town beat Colchester United 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out to claim victory in an FA Youth Cup third round tie at the Weston Homes Community Stadium last night.

Neither side could score, during the 90 minutes and ensuing 30 minutes of extra-time, but it was Town who proved the more deadly from the spot in the shoot-out.

Monty Patterson, Kundai Benyu, James Blanchfield and Victor Guldbrandsen all netted their penalties for Ipswich.

Cameron James and Jamie Stephens were also on target for the U’s, but both Tariq Issa and Tyler Brampton missed their penalties.

Issa blazed the first one over the top, and Brampton had his effort saved by keeper Sam McDermid.

Town’s reward is a long trip to Sunderland in round four.

The U’ set up with a very defensive shape, but this 4-5-1 formation was effective during the early stages, with Joel Atkin as the lone striker.

Left-back Tyler Brampton, back in the side after injury, won an early free-kick and Louis Dunne, the son of former U’s manager Joe Dunne, made good progress down the left flank. The move ended with Town clearing Tariq Issa’s final cross.

Town came closer to a goal in the ninth minute. Cemal Ramadan burst down the right wing and whipped over a cross-cum-shot which grazed the top of the bar, although keeper Callum Robinson was well positioned.

Five minutes later and the visitors threatened again, from Monty Patterson’s corner. The cross fizzed through to Myles Kenlock, but Town’s left-back could not direct his header on target from the far post.

Half-way through the first period and livewire Ramadan pounced on a slip by U’s defender Joe Tennent, only to balloon his shot several feet over the bar.

The U’s had a sight of goal in the 28th minute. Midfielder Cameron James teed up Brampton, but the defender rather scuffed his shot and keeper Sam McDermid saved with ease.

A minute later and the hosts peppered the target from a corner, with centre-half Tennent heading powerfully over the top from eight yards out.

Just before half-time, U’s centre-half Jamie Stephens was relieved to see his sliced clearance, from Joshua Emmanuel’s cross, loop into the arms of his keeper Robinson.

The first real save of the match did not arrive until the 48th minute, when Robinson arched back to finger-tip Kundai Benyu’s 25-yard free-kick over his bar.

At the other end, Callum Harrison tried his luck from distance with a low drive which McDermid scooped up.

The U’s were beginning to grow in confidence, and both Cameron James and Brampton flashed crosses along Town’s six-yard box, in quick succession, with no team-mate on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Town continued to lack accuracy with their shooting. Patterson dragged a shot wide on 65 minutes, while team-mate Victor Guldbrandsen smashed an effort narrowly over the top from the edge of the box.

Substitute James Blanchfield threatened a late winner for Town in the 83rd minute, but his ferocious drive again flew agonisingly over the bar.

The Suffolk side were on the attack again when Tennent conceded a free-kick, just outside the box, for impeding Shane McLoughlin in the 89th minute, but substitute Andre Dozzell, the son of ex-Town star Jason (who was in the crowd), drilled the set piece wide of the far post.

Eight minutes into extra-time and a swift break by Patterson teed up McLoughlin, only for the visiting attacker to lose his footing at the vital moment.

There was excitement for the U’s in the 104th minute. George Brown’s cross rolled through to substitute Khristopher Oti, who was standing on the edge of the six-yard box, but his shot was blocked by Luke Woolfenden, with just a suspicion of handball.

With three minutes of extra-time remaining, Robinson pulled off a fine block to prevent Patterson’s crisp shot from flying into the net.

Squads

COLCHESTER: Robinson, Andrews (sub Downey, 101), Brampton, James, Tennent, Stephens, Brown, Harrison, Atkin (sub Oti, 77), Issa, Dunne (sub Cosgrave, 106). Unused subs: Syrett, Wilson.

IPSWICH: McDermid, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Guldbrandsen, Woolfenden, Smith, Ramadan (sub Dozzell, 64), Benyu, Ford (sub Blanchfield, 64), McLoughlin (sub Jones, 101), Patterson. Unused subs: Hayes, Ellis.

Referee: Mr Hancock