Town U18s recovered from being two goals down to beat Rushden and Diamonds 4-2 in a pre-season friendly at Playford Road on Wednesday afternoon. Goals from Tony Boto, a Charlie Sheringham penalty, Jordan Rhodes and Stuart Ainsley gave the Blues their victory.

Town included three trialists in their starting line-up. Australian Anthony Cochrane, 15, started the game in goal, Irish youngster Barry O'Driscoll from College Corinthians in Cork started on the left side of midfield, while Russell Short, who has been with the Cambridge academy up to now, played another full game at the heart of the Town defence.

Rushden included ex-Ipswich U16 player Scott Wark, nephew of John, in their side.

The small crowd included Teddy Sheringham who was watching his son Charlie, first-teamers Jaime Peters and Owen Garvan, and Andy Rhodes who was watching his son Jordan.

Rushden took the lead in the sixth minute when Jon Stead fired home after a mix-up in the Town defence. Jack Haverson had tried to usher Simeon Jackson away from the ball but the striker got round him and got to it ahead of Cochrane and unselfishly cut it back for Stead to fire in.

Town came close to equalising on 13 minutes when new Icelandic academy recruit Bjorn Orri Hermansson volleyed Barry O'Driscoll's cross onto the bar.

Ex-Spurs trialist Cochrane was almost caught out seven minutes later after a fierce shot from Jackson bounced just in front of the young keeper, but he pounced on the ball after a good initial save.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 22nd minute. Jackson hit a left-foot shot back across Cochrane who could do nothing to prevent the young striker from scoring.

Jackson was looking lively, and he robbed Russell Short a minute later, but this time he hit his shot just past the post.

On 27, Town pulled a goal back when Tony Boto was put through and delicately lobbed the on-coming keeper.

Four minutes later, Boto was back helping out his defence. A good recovery from Haverson allowed Rushden a corner. A good ball into the box was headed away by Boto just before Wark arrived.

On 33, FA Youth Cup hero Edward Upson replaced Icelandic midfielder Hermansson who was obviously struggling with an injury after being tackled from behind.

Straight after the substitution, Town equalised when Wark shoved Charlie Sheringham in the penalty area. Sheringham dusted himself down and fired the spot-kick home. The referee ordered Rushden to make a substitution in the aftermath of the goal, Wark having been deemed to have given the referee too much dissent.

Two minutes before the break, Jackson's sublime first touch set him up with a good opportunity but he pulled his shot just wide.

At half-time, youngster Ryan Bennett replaced the injured Luke Webster at right-back. On 56, Town made a treble substitution. Young striker Jordan Rhodes replaced Tony Boto, Michael Synnott made his comeback from injury by replacing Jack Haverson at centre-back and 14-year-old Scot Paul Watson replaced Stuart Ainsley at left-back.

Within two minutes of coming on, Rhodes had etched his name on the scoresheet. A high cross from Bennett allowed Sheringham to challenge the Rushden keeper and when he dropped it, Rhodes was there to fire the ball in. Rhodes then created another good chance for himself soon after, but this time he failed to convert.

Jackson was still a real handful for the Town back four and on 61 he fired another shot just wide of Cochrane's far post. Shortly afterwards trialist Barry O'Driscoll was replaced by Stuart Ainsley.

Town scored their fourth goal on 66 minutes when a good cross from Oliver Fenn ended up finding its way to the back post where Ainsley was waiting to fire in.

Four minutes later, Synnott prevented Jackson from pulling a goal back for Rushden by ushering him away from Town's goal.

On 80 Jackson hit a volley against the bar and the follow up header was well-saved by Cochrane.

Russell Short made a good block in the final few seconds to protect Town's two-goal advantage.

Another good workout for Town's youngsters in a game where Rushden fielded a few players older than 18. Town competed well in all areas, and the central midfield pairings of Nimmo and Hermansson, and Nimmo and Upson won their battles and provided good service to the Town strikers.

Town: 1 Anthony Cochrane, 2 Luke Webster (17 Ryan Bennett 45), 3 Stuart Ainsley (15 Paul Watson 56), 4 Ian Nimmo (7 Oliver Fenn 88), 5 Jack Haverson (12 Michael Synnott 56), 6 Russell Short, 7 Oliver Fenn (10 Tony Boto 82), 8 Bjorn Orri Hermansson (14 Edward Upson 33), 9 Charlie Sheringham, 10 Tony Boto (16 Jordan Rhodes 56) and 11 Barry O'Driscoll (3 Stuart Ainsley 61).

Photo: Action Images

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