IPSWICH Town Reserves can take a massive step to landing their first piece of silverware of the season when they take on East Anglian rivals Colchester United at Layer Road this afternoon (kick-off 2pm).

By Derek Davis

IPSWICH Town Reserves can take a massive step to landing their first piece of silverware of the season when they take on East Anglian rivals Colchester United at Layer Road this afternoon (kick-off 2pm).

It is top versus second in the East Division of the Pontin's Holidays Combination League, and admission is free.

A mixture of Town first-teamers and youngsters will be looking to extend their lead at the top. They are after a league-and-cup double after reaching the final of the Suffolk Premier Cup.

Town first team coach Bryan Klug said: “As well as those who have already made the squad, there are a couple of young lads who are pushing to be involved before the end of the season.

“We have not been happy with the standard of the reserve league but it is still important that the younger lads are playing competitive football and get into the habit of winning and performing well.”

Three young Town players are away on international duty. Danny Haynes is with England Under-19s at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium, while Jamie Peters is in Canada hoping to play against Scotland, and exciting young prospect Tommy Smith, who rejected the chance to play for New Zealand, is in the England Under-17s.

Billy Clarke will join up with the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad later this week.

Meanwhile, triallist Rob Davies will make his second appearance for the U's Reserves.

West Brom's central midfielder, a Welsh Under-21 International, caught the eye in his first outing for United in a 1-0 win over Northampton Town. Jamie Guy scored the winner that day.

Front-runner Guy is one of just three players with first-team experience in today's squad. The others are keeper Aidan Davison and defender George Elokobi.

But Medi Elito, who has been in the spotlight of late with the reported interest from Manchester United, is in the 16-man squad. The U's left-winger is an England Under-17 international.

Squads

Colchester United Reserves: Davison, Cousins, Wilson, Haynes-Brown, Devaux, Elokobi, Hammond, Wright, Wordsworth, Davies, Hughes, Elito, Olusanya, Quintyn, Guy and Webb.

Ipswich Town Reserves: Supple, Sito, Barron, Fenn, Casement, Trotter, Moore, Upson, Reason, O'Callaghan, Clarke, Leabon, Short, Plummer, Webster and Nimmo.

The Suffolk Premier Cup final between Ipswich Town and Leiston will be played on Tuesday, April 17, with a 7pm kick off at Portman Road.