Striker Ronan Murray hit a first half hat-trick as Town's U18s won their annual friendly against Sole Bay United 6-0 on a windy Southwold Common. Tom Eastman, Jamie Griffiths and a Sole Bay defender completed the scoring.

Murray put the Town youngsters ahead in the fourth minute, cleverly lobbing the keeper after a through ball from Josh Carson had deflected to the left of the area.

The high wind off the North Sea made flowing football tricky and it wasn't until the 33rd minute that the Blues added to their lead, centre-half Tom Eastman powerfully heading in Jamie Griffiths's freekick from the left.

A minute later, it was three, Eastman's long ball down the centre caught out a Sole Bay central defender and Murray ran on and slipped the ball past the keeper.

Griffiths hit the post on 36, a minute before Murray added the fourth, the Sole Bay keeper palming his chip into the roof of the net.

Town were less on top in the second half with U18s coach Chris Kiwomya making a number of changes.

The fifth goal came on 73 when Jamie Griffiths took the ball from one side of the penalty area to the other before cutting the ball back across the keeper.

With six minutes remaining, Ed Butcher crossed from the right and a defender diverted the ball into his own net.

Irish U19 international Ronan Murray caught the eye more than most before being replaced at the break, while Tom Eastman was steady at the back. New academy recruit Josh Carson impressed more when playing in a central midfield position in the second half than up front before the break.

Irish trialist keeper Mark Grace hardly touched the ball, while further trialists were introduced in the second half, including Norwegian central defender Nicolay Schrøder.

U18s: Grace, Bennett (Whight 62), McKeown, Hyam (Cawley 51), Meekings, Eastman (Schrøder 55), Clark (Burke 46), Brandon, Murray (Butcher 46), Griffiths, Carson.

Photo: Action Images

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