Town to give Wanderers big test

By Derek Davis

ONE look at tonight's team sheet will underline how important Ipswich Town are taking their involvement in the Suffolk Premier Cup.

The Blues longest-serving player Richard Naylor, along with Fabian Wilnis, who have nearly 650 Town games between them, will line up, with fellow first teamers such as Sito, Shane Supple and Billy Clarke among others.

After beating Needham Market and Felixstowe along the way to reach the semi-finals, the Blues are a game away from the final at Portman Road and manager Jim Magilton is delighted the club returned to the competition after a gap of more than 35 years.

Magilton said: “It gives local sides an opportunity to play against Ipswich Town and for us that is invaluable. The side we put out shows that we consider it as an important competition for us.

“It gives our young players an opportunity to play and we also put in a few big-hitters.”

Although he never played for the first team at Liverpool, Magilton was a regular in the reserves and knows the importance of being blooded at non-league level. He said: “It is how I was brought up at Liverpool, where the Senior Cup was a huge trophy to play for.”

Meanwhile, Paul Betson and Gareth Jones are cup-tied for Wanderers, while Lee Owen and Simon Hyde are injury doubts.

Wanderers squad: J Stannard, R Stannard, Farrington, Goldfinch, Bell, Shade, Smy, Owen, Lowe, Hyde, Francis, Tournay-Godfrey, Banya, Bennett, Johnson.

Reserve team defender Luke Webster is poised to join Yeovil on loan until the end of the season along with Daryl Knights and Martin Brittain, who are already there.

Michael Synott has a suspected chipped bone in an ankle after the Madiera tournament with the Republic of Ireland Under 21s.