Ipswich Town Res 2 Stevenage Borough Res 0GOALS from young hot-shot Jordan Rhodes and trialist Joe Francis cemented Ipswich Town's lead at the top of the Pontin's Holidays Combination at Portman Road last night.

By Elvin King

Ipswich Town Res 2 Stevenage Borough Res 0

GOALS from young hot-shot Jordan Rhodes and trialist Joe Francis cemented Ipswich Town's lead at the top of the Pontin's Holidays Combination at Portman Road last night.

Rhodes struck from close-in in the 34th minute following an astute pass from Jai Reason, and Francis completed the scoring on the hour after a deep cross from Martin Brittain gave him time to beat Ipswich-based Stevenage keeper Daniel Potter.

Francis, 20, is currently on trial with Town after catching the eye of Ipswich scouts playing for Woodbridge Town in the Ridgeons League.

Loaned for the night as he is under contract with Mick Stockwell's Woodbridge, Francis did his chances of an Ipswich contract no harm with a promising display.

The apprentice plasterer was joined in the Town team by George O'Callaghan and the recent £50,000 signing from Cork City played up front for an hour before settling back in midfield.

His experience and pedigree shone through at times in a rather low key game where a few of the visiting youngsters made the most of playing in such high class surroundings.

Potter, who went to St Joseph's College and was a left-back with Ipswich as a schoolboy before playing for Chelsea, Colchester and Canvey Island, was the busier of the two keepers although Town skipper Shane Supple had to make a couple of saves.

Town manager Jim Magilton watched from the stands, and Aidan Collins had a good game as he recovers from injury.

Edwards Upson (Ipswich) and Paul White (Stevenage) were both booked within seconds of coming on to the field. Jack Bradshaw was carried off on a stretcher but tests revealed no broken bones as at first feared.

Ipswich Town: Supple, Casement, Barron, Reason (sub Upson 52 mins), Synnott, Collins, Brittain, Trotter, O'Callaghan (Leabon 71), Rhodes, Francis (Fenn 85). Sub: Short.

Stevenage: Potter, Bradshaw (White 53), A Iwediuno, Moss, Hatton, Pepper, Dobson (Sealey 65), Balderson, Thomas, Sullivan (Mackie 73), Hocker. Subs: D Iwediuno, Davidge.

Referee: Mr S Beck.