Ipswich Reserves extended their fantastic winning run with a hard-earned 3-2 victory at Southend United yesterday afternoon.Jordan Rhodes bagged a brace, sandwiching a strike from Owen Garvan, as an experienced Town side chalked up their 12th win from 12 starts in the Pontin's Combination eastern division this season.

Carl Marston

Ipswich Reserves extended their fantastic winning run with a hard-earned 3-2 victory at Southend United yesterday afternoon.

Jordan Rhodes bagged a brace, sandwiching a strike from Owen Garvan, as an experienced Town side chalked up their 12th win from 12 starts in the Pontin's Combination eastern division this season.

Rhodes converted a cross from Danny Haynes inside the first minute, and although the Shrimpers equalised before half-time, midfielder Garvan then restored Town's lead early in the second period. Back came the hosts with an equaliser, but 18-year-old front-runner Rhodes grabbed the winner with 10 minutes remaining.

Other senior first teamers enjoying a run-out, in addition to Garvan and Haynes, were Sito, Fabian Wilnis and keeper Nick Colgan.

Colchester United Reserves were also in action yesterday, continuing their remarkable sequence of draws with a 1-1 score-line against Stevenage Borough. An error by keeper Mark Cousins had allowed Stevenage winger O'Sullivan to break the deadlock on 48 minutes, but teenager Fabian Quintyn latched onto Anthony Wordsworth's pass to net a 64th minute equaliser.

The U's second string have now drawn nine of their 12 fixtures in the Combination this term. Having drawn eight of their first nine, they then recorded back-to-back wins at Southend and Grays before yesterday's Layer Road stalemate.