FA Barclaycard Premier Reserve League (south)Ipswich Town Res 0 Chelsea Reserves 1By Derek DavisIT may not have been the billionaire Chelsea, which was performing in the Champions' League, but the predominantly young reserve side showed how deep the class runs through the club.

FA Barclaycard Premier Reserve League (south)

Ipswich Town Res 0 Chelsea Reserves 1

By Derek Davis

IT may not have been the billionaire Chelsea, which was performing in the Champions' League, but the predominantly young reserve side showed how deep the class runs through the club.

Town lost to a single goal in the end after getting the run-around in the first half – but they showed they too had players of skill and ability.

First-teamers like Alan Mahon and John McGreal pressed claims to get back in the starting side, although the Irish winger may have to be a little more patient.

McGreal has shown patience in his return but looks more than ready to answer the call should Georges Santos fail to make it for the trip to Cardiff, and certainly for when the Frenchman is suspended against Derby County next week.

Town's best chance fell to Scott Mitchell, whose weak shot was easily taken by Neil Sullivan. Mahon struck a left- foot 20-yarder hard and low but again the keeper gathered.

Alun Armstrong sprung the offside trap but curled his shot wide as Sullivan raced out to meet him midway through the second half.

Chelsea had more quality than the proverbial 'Street' sweets but could not turn their first-half domination into anything substantial.

Portuguese Under-19 international Filipe Oliveria poked the ball wide of a gaping goal after a Steven Watt header rebounded down from the crossbar.

Their winner came 10 minutes from time when the otherwise stout Town defence failed to clear the ball and substitute Jimmy Smith struck a scorcher from 22 yards which went in off the underside of the bar.

Chelsea stay third in the table while Town will have been disappointed to lose their first game in five after working so hard to contain the Londoners and putting them under pressure in the second half.

Ipswich Town Reserves: Price, Hogg, Barron, Mitchell, McGreal, Collins, Abidallah (Flack, 45) Miller, Armstrong and Mahon (Morrow, 70) Substitutes not used: Craig, Krause and Supple.

Chelsea Reserves: Sullivan, Watt, Tillen, De Araujo, Di Cesare, Nicolas, Oliveria, Boussoufa, Woodards (Smith, 50) Jeffreys and Rocastle. Substitutes not used: Gallacvio, Ma Kalamby, Hollands, Hudell.

Referee: K Woolmer. Attendance: 1,325.