IN a hastily re-arranged Under-18 match Ipswich Town beat Fulham 3-2 at a bitterly cold Playford Road.

Jack Simmons made a welcome return and almost made a dream start firing narrowly over in the opening seconds. In a lively first half both sides went close but at half time the match was goalless.

The match exploded into life after the break with the visitors taking the lead after just two minutes when a free-kick to the back post was headed home by the unmarked Robert Maloney.

Moments later the dangerous Alex Brister struck the Town bar but spurred by the let-off Simmons and Josh Carson both went close for Ipswich.

The equaliser came with 20 minutes remaining when a pinpoint cross was met with a powerfull header by Josh Meekings. The Londoners fought back and Brister restored their lead with a low shot past Cody Cropper after a mistake in the Blues’ midfield.

Ipswich, who have looked a far more confident side in recent weeks, staged a mighty recovery and first Cormac Burke struck a fierce low shot to equalise and then the outstanding Simmons got the winner in the final minute scrambling the ball home from a corner.

On Saturday the Youths are at home again when Charlton are the visitors with an 11am kick-off.

Ipswich: Cropper, Bennett, Whight, Carson, Meekings, McKeown, Burke, Scotcher, Simmons, Lawrence, Tiofack Substitutes: O’Donnell, Winter, Acott, Maduako, October.