BARCLAYCARD PREMIER RESERVE LEAGUE SOUTHIpswich Town Res 1Arsenal Res 4By Derek DavisSHELL-shocked Ian Westlake admitted Ipswich had been given something of a lesson after Arsenal came from behind to run out comfortable winners.

BARCLAYCARD PREMIER RESERVE LEAGUE SOUTH

Ipswich Town Res 1

Arsenal Res 4

By Derek Davis

SHELL-shocked Ian Westlake admitted Ipswich had been given something of a lesson after Arsenal came from behind to run out comfortable winners.

The midfielder, who made his first senior start against West Ham last Saturday, praised the young guns who looked a clone of the Premiership giants.

Westlake said: "Man for man we were just as good but on the night they played better than us.

"They were very quick and our two centre-halves did very well against them but will have learned a couple of things like when to go tight and when to drop off. But we all learned something. We need to compete a bit harder and pick our time to try and win the ball otherwise they will pass round you as they did.

"We got off to a great start with a terrific finish by Nabil (Abidallah) and it was good to be involved in a goal like that which came from such a good build-up."

Darren Bent was pulled out of the squad after being injured earlier in the day during a training ground collison, making the side even younger, with Nabil Abidallah at 21 the oldest Town player by two years.

The Blues got off to a terrific start with Dean Bowditch slipping the ball in for former Ajax trainee Abidallah, who turned inside Frenchman Gael Clichy before powerfully beating Stuart Taylor at his near post from eight yards.

The young Dutchman showed some good touches throughout and may have done enough to convince one of the many league managers in the crowd to take him, at least on loan.

French Under-21 international Jeremie Aliadiere levelled on 18 minutes, a well-taken goal after Town failed to clear and he reacted quickly to poke the ball in from eight yards.

For the first half-hour Ipswich's youngsters were still more than a match for their counterparts but Pat Rice's Gunners found their range, banging in two more goals in last 15 minutes of the half.

Lewis Price had made three comfortable saves before he was finally beaten first by a tremendous finish from Justin Hoyte, who had been picked out by Qunicey. Then the equally impressive Jerome Thomas skipped through the Town defence before sliding the ball past Price.

With the Gunners looking to allow Thomas out for the rest of the season his pace, quick feet and good brain would make him a quality addition in the Nationwide.

Ipswich have some terrific young players but at times former Ajax youngster Quincey, Thomas and Aliadiere, were stunning with their range of skills and attributes.

John Halls, who spent a loan spell with Colchester United, got the fourth from close range after Quincey and Aliadiere headed through the defence.

Ipswich Town Res: Price, Okay (Synott, 83) Richards, Murray, Collins, Nash, Abidallah, Atay (Robinson, 65) Craig (Reid, 65) Bowditch and Westlake. Subs not used: Suple, Krause.

Arsenal Res: Taylor, Hoyte, Clichy, Halls, Tavliridis, Bailey, Bradley (Fowler, 80) Paulinho (Spice, 80) Quincey (Nicolau, 85) Aliadiere and Thomas. Subs not used: Holloway, Oji.

Referee: Mr G Lewis.

Attendance: 1,824.