Luke Varney and Shane McLoughlin both scored twice as Ipswich Town’s under 21 side secured a comfortable 6-1 win over Bristol City this afternoon.

All the Ipswich goals came in the first half at Playford Road, with Adam McDonnell and Larsen Toure also finding the net for the Blues.

Paul Digby, Jay Tabb and Ainsley Maitland-Niles were also involved against a young Bristol City side, who scored their only goal from the spot in the second half through Shawn McCoulsky.

Toure scored the pick of the Ipswich goals as he fired home a free-kick from 25-yards, capping a good display from the winger who was the Blues’ most dangerous player before he was withdrawn in the second-half.

Digby was commanding and vocal at the back alongside centre-back partner Josh Emmanuel, while Tabb was deployed at left back and walked a number of Town’s younger players through the contest, which was watched by manager Mick McCarthy and assistant Terry Connor.

Maitland-Niles never really got out of second gear, while still showing his class on occasions, with Andre Dozzell looking a creative force in the first period before fading slightly in the second.

The Blues also included Histon full-back Kane Smith in their side, with the trailist performing well as he kept things tight at the back and put in a handful of dangerous crosses.

The hosts started quickly and were ahead inside five minutes, as McLoughlin turned to hook the ball home superbly after both Tabb and Digby had worked the ball towards goals.

It was 2-0 just a few minutes later as a superb ball forward from Dozzell and a neat ball inside from Varney sent Toure in on goal, only for him to be chopped down by City keeper Jojo Woolacott. McDonnell stepped up and lashed home an unstoppable penalty to double Town’s lead.

McDonnell won the ball back which allowed Maitland-Niles to slip Varney in for his first of the afternoon, with his second coming at the back post as he stabbed in McDonnell’s header back from another Dozzell corner.

The pick of the goals was Toure’s impressive free-kick, which he struck powerfully into the top corner, with Town’s final goal coming through McLoughlin once again as he turned home after his initial effort was saved by Woolacott.

Dozzell had a chance well-saved by the visiting keeper as Town slowed up in the second half, with the game already won, with City grabbing an equaliser through McCoulsky from the spot following Digby’s hand ball.

Ipswich Town: Crowe; Kane Smith, Tabb, Emmanuel, Digby; McDonnell, Dozzell, Toure (James Blanchfield), Maitland-Niles (Chris Smith); McLoughlin, Varney (McKendry).

Subs not used: Marsden, Kenlock

Bristol City: Woolacott; Harris, Kelly, Baldwin, Batten, Morrell, Last, Fry, Downing, Evans, McCoulsky.

Subs: O’Leary, Harper, Moss, Chilekwa.