GAVIN Williams gave Ipswich Town a big boost with a successful return from injury last Friday night.

Bury Town 1

Ipswich Town 6

GAVIN Williams gave Ipswich Town a big boost with a successful return from injury last Friday night.

He took no time in making his mark in his first pre-season match as the Blues made merry at Ryman League Division One North Bury Town's Ram Meadow ground last night.

The 27-year-old midfielder has been undergoing intensive treatment since the end of last season including sessions in Denmark with specialist Per Holmich to rectify a painful pelvic problem.

He allayed fears over his well-being and showed he is well on the way to a full recovery with an encouraging display.

Within two minutes of his return to action the Welsh international showed why he is such a valuable member of the Blues' squad when he lifted a peach of a pass over the Bury defence for Billy Clarke to run clear and net confidently.

Clarke went on to score a hat-trick as Ipswich found the net six times.

Owen Garvan was also showing his class in midfield and, along with Williams, sent a succession of pin-point long passes that the home defence had difficulty coping with in the first half.

Manager Jim Magilton was not at the game because of a family commitment in the north of England with coach Bryan Klug taking charge of the side.

Ian Miller, who was picked up in last season's corresponding match, was skipper for the night before leaving Town on a six-month loan to Darlington.

Town went further ahead in the 18th minute when Jaime Peters, who later took a knock to his thigh, went down the right to pull back a pass that the energetic Danny Haynes placed precisely into the net with his left foot from 18-yards.

A scramble following a 24th minute right-wing corner resulted in the all being struck against Clarke before rebounding into the net, and just before the interval Garvan played a one-two with Clarke before curling a spectacular left-foot shot high into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area.

Town were unable to deal with a cross to the far post and Scott Chaplin took advantage to score for Bury with a low shot that went under Shane Supple.

Academy scholar Tommy Smith showed his potential at the back, but there were times when Ipswich's worrying defensive frailties surfaced again.

Triallist Arsene Menassiu came on to play at right back with Michael Synnott moving to central defence, with Supple taking over as skipper. Reggie Lambe, a scholar from Bermuda, also saw some first-team action.

A strong run forward by 19-year-old Frenchman Menassiu led to a measured pass converted by Clarke for his hat-trick in the 65th minute, and two minutes later substitute Kurt Robinson blocked a clearance for the ball to loop over the keeper and into the net. Town finished with `10 men with Menassiu limping off eight minutes from the end.

Bury, who started with three players under 19 - and all their substitutes were all 18 or under - were not disgraced and the work out will have done them good both on and off the field.

Bury Town: D Greygoose (sub S Greygoose 80), Jeal (sub L Read 64 mins), Nunn (Sloots 74), Cornwall, Coe (Walker 79), Bullard, L Smith (N Clarke 80), Steward (Foster 74), S Read (Bamment 74), Cambridge (Kawaguchi 80), Chaplin (J Miller 80).

Ipswich Town: Supple; Synnott, I Miller (Menassiu 57), T Smith, Richards; Peters (Lambe 46), Garvan (Murray 76), Williams (Robinson), O'Callaghan (Rhodes 76); Haynes (Cawley 76), Clarke (Upson 76).

Referee: Mr R Beevor (Lowestoft).

Attendance: 1,926.