Confidence-boosting win for Town
IPSWICH Town warmed up for their memorable FA Youth Cup midweek victory over Arsenal with a confidence-boosting 2-0 home win over Southampton in the Academy League.
IPSWICH Town warmed up for their memorable FA Youth Cup midweek victory over Arsenal with a confidence-boosting 2-0 home win over Southampton in the Academy League.
After a long break Town's youngsters returned to action with a hard-fought success over a young Saints side.
Mountains of snow surrounding the pitch were testimony to the efforts to put the match on, but heavy rain at kick-off time threatened to make conditions even worse.
Town welcomed back Seb Dunbar and Ronan Murray from injury while Michael Winstone and Winston Carvalho were making their debuts on the bench. The suspended Dave Cawley missed his first game of the season.
There was little action in the first half until the 44th minute when Luke Hyam broke away to fire a vicious shot that Saints keeper Dovey could only parry into the path of Jamie Griffiths, who finished with ease.
Murray ran on to a terrific ball from Josh Meekings but fired inches wide.
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The second half saw Town looking livelier and twice Billy Clark weaved his way through the Saints defence only to finish weakly.
Callum Bennett blocked a goal-bound shot on the line as the visitors fought back.
McKeown, Brandon and Carvalho came on as players tired in the heavy conditions and Town made the game safe ten minutes from time when Clark once again dribbled through the entire Southampton defence.
This time he finished confidently with a low shot. There was still time for Josh Carson to block another goal-bound attempt from the visitors.
Southampton will feel that their possession merited a share of the points, but they created and missed several chances whereas Ipswich took theirs.
Following their tremendous FA Youth Cup victory over Arsenal, Town travel to London on Saturday for a dress rehearsal of the fifth round tie against Fulham.
Team v Southampton: Ranieri, Bennett, Dunbar, Hyam, Meekings, Eastman, Clark, Carson, Lavery, Murray, Griffiths. Substitutes: McKeown, Winstone, Brandon, Carvalho, Whight.
