IPSWICH TOWN: The Under-18’s run of good deserted them with a 3-2 home defeat by Southampton at a blustery Playford Road.

Having missed a couple of clear cut chances, the Saints opened the scoring after 16 minutes when Matthew Rose was left unmarked to beat the advancing Cody Cropper with a looping header.

With Caolan Lavery again an isolated figure up front, Town continued to struggle and it was no surprise when Luke Shaw made it two on the stroke of half-time with a simple header.

Town emerged for the second half in a more determined mood with Byron Lawrence on for Tom Winter. A fine run by Lavery took him through the Saints’ defence but ended with a weak finish. After 59 minutes the same player put Town back in the match with a typical goal. Chasing a lost cause and going in bravely with keeper Bovey, he was rewarded with the ball rolling into the visitors’ net.

Just as it seemed that Town could save the game, another defensive mistake gave substitute Jake Sinclair the opportunity to fire low past Cropper with his first touch of the ball.

With seven minutes left Byron Lawrence, having already scored a brace for the Under-16’s, reduced the arrers with a deflected shot. but in truth Town were always second best.

With no match on Saturday, Town’s next fixture is a visit to Portsmouth in October 30.

As a footnote to the previous week’s sparkling win at West Ham and conjecture as to whether this was the youngest ever Under-18 team, the academy have confirmed that the average age of the team was just 16 years 4 months.

Ipswich: Cropper, Acott, Whight, Jones, Meekings, Maduako, Winter, Scotcher, Lavery, Carson, Tiofack. Substitutes: Lawrence, O’Donnell, Simmons, October, Hammond

Town Under-U16’s enjoyed a good 5-0 win over the young Saints.