TOM Winter scored a stunning goal to send Ipswich Town into the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup at the expense of Bristol City.
The midfield dynamo illuminated an otherwise uneventful tie at Ashton Gate as Town exacted revenge for a 4-0 defeat handed out by the Robins earlier this season.
There appeared to be little on for Winter when he collected the ball on the edge of a crowded penalty area. But he stunned City keeper Dylan Castanheira with a superb curling shot that dipped under the bar and found the top right-hand corner of the net.
Having taken the lead, Town were then indebted to goalkeeper Michael Crowe, who made a fine sprawling save to keep out Pierce Mitchell’s header early in the second half.
City came on strong in search of an equaliser and the visitors breathed a sigh of relief when Jamal Simms fired wide of a gaping target, while Conor Evans steered a header inches wide from close range.
The home side looked certain to score when Wes Burns burst through five minutes from time, only for Town defender Omar Sowumni to make a goal-saving intervention.
But Ipswich defended valiantly and soaked up sustained pressure to make it a happy return to Ashton Gate for youth team boss Russell Osman, once a City player and manager.
Bristol City: Castenheira, Simms, John, Jordan, Batten, Mitchell, Evans (Bishop 76), Hall (Paice 90), Burns, Morrell (Pollard 70), Cline.
Ipswich Town: Crowe, Hammond, October, Berkane, Sowumni, Clarke, Winter, Galvin, Marriott, Lawrence, Timlin (Willbye 72).
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here