Town U16s recorded their sixth consecutive victory on Saturday morning with a 4-2 victory over Arsenal at Playford Road. Charlie Matthews, Connor Wickham (2) and Ollie Brown scored the Blues goals.

With Callum Whittaker injuring a foot in the warm-up, Luke Hyam was named in the starting line-up, with trialist Eoin O'Herlihy, formerly with Aston Villa, on the bench.

Town took the lead early on when the Arsenal defence failed to deal with a corner and Charlie Matthews beat the keeper to the loose ball and headed into the net.

Arsenal were soon back level after a clever turn in the box allowed a midfielder to shoot from the edge of the box and curl his effort just inside the post.

Substitute Connor Wickham then gave Town the lead again in the second half after a clever through ball allowed him to dink it over the visiting keeper.

The visitors were on level terms once more when Town left-back Seb Dunbar was adjudged to have fouled a Gunners striker in the area, and the resultant penalty was tucked away beyond Blues keeper Lewis Ward, a former Arsenal academy schoolboy.

Wickham was unlucky not to score again when he smashed the ball against the bar after good work on the right from O'Herlihy. Midfielder Billy Clark headed the re-bound just over the top.

Town's third came after superb work from Luke Hyam on the right, which allowed Ronan Murray to turn and play Wickham in who finished well.

Ollie Brown then scored Town's fourth after a good cross from the left enabled him to take a touch before volleying into the net.

Centre-backs Hyam and Tom Eastman were solid throughout, while David Cawley covered a lot of ground in centre midfield.

Ronan Murray showed plenty of good touches and promise up front, alongside 15-year-old Wickham, whose physical presence was a real handful for the Arsenal backline.

Trialist O'Herlihy also showed some nice touches and skill during the time he was on the field.

Ipswich U16s: Ward, Austin, Dunbar, Eastman, Hyam, Cawley, Brown, Clark, Matthews, Murray and Easlea. Subs (all used): Traveller, Roe, Wickham and O'Herlihy.

Photo: Action Images

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