Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s 25-yard strike sealed Ipswich Town a 1-0 win over QPR in an Under-21 fixture at Playford Road this afternoon.

The 27-year-old – who is building up his match sharpness again following a recent hamstring injury – curled an inch perfect shot into the top corner of the goal in the 52nd minute. He also hit the post as Mark Kennedy’s side won for only the second time in 15 games this season.

Ebanks-Blake was one of five first team squad members in action, with Scott Loach in goal, Tyrone Mings captaining at left-back, Middlesbrough loanee Frazer Richardson at centre-back and Anthony Wordsworth in midfield.

Former England international Luke Young was in the visiting side’s team and he cleared a goalbound effort from Luke Hammond off the line after Mings’ cut-back and a last-ditch intervention prevented Ebanks-Blake gobbling up the rebound.

Town boss Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor were in attendance.

IPSWICH TOWN U21s: Loach, Hammond, Bishop, Richardson, Mings (cpt), Clarke, Galvin (Adekunle 69), Wordsworth, Ebanks-Blake, McQueen (Leddy 73), Lawrence.

Unused subs: Crowe, Sowunmi, Westley.

QPR U21s: Lumley, Furlong, Kpekawa, Gibbons (Mitchell 83), Young, Magri, Shariff, Laurent, Skapetis, Dellatorre (Ismajli 68), Yun (Fitzpatrick 59).

Unused subs: Carreiro, Hudnott.