A youthful Town reserve side beat similarly inexperienced West Ham second string 2-0 at Needham Market on Friday night. The goals came from Kieran Leabon and sub Edward Upson.

Jay McEveley played the full 90 minutes at left-back whilst Sam Parkin appeared for the first 45 minutes before being replaced at half-time.

Released players Scott Mitchell and Cathal Lordan were playing in front of a number of scouts and they did their hopes of finding a new club no harm at all.

Also in attendance were Joe Royle, Willie Donachie, Andy Rhodes, Jordan Rhodes (who has recently been offered a three-year deal, two as an academy scholar one as a professional), Billy Clarke and Dean McDonald. Stephen Bywater was the only recognised West Ham player present.

Town took the lead on four minutes when youngster Kieran Leabon scored with a good finish.

Three minutes later, the visitors wasted a corner and this allowed Town to break. Jaime Peters came close to doubling Town's advantage with a good effort.

On 18, Darryl Knights was close to closing down Bywater's kick, but West Ham cleared and, after Russell Short failed to deal with a high ball, Kyel Reid came close to scoring. He toe-poked the ball up in the air and over Óskar Pétursson in the Town goal but Scott Mitchell cleared the danger with a strong header.

In a quiet first half, Leabon came close again on 36 when a Town corner wasn't cleared and the young striker was close to looping the ball over the keeper and into the net.

On 39, a foul on Peters resulted in a Town freekick on the right. Cathal Lordan's kick was deflected just over the bar for a corner which was easily cleared.

In the one minute of added time, Town came close again. Lordan picked up a loose header on the edge of the box and set up Knights, whose good low shot was parried by Bywater and the keeper collected at the second attempt. Youngster Ollie Fenn replaced Parkin at half-time for Town.

The first chance in the second-half once again fell to Knights on 60, his flicked header flying wide of the post after good work from Peters.

Five minutes later, David Cowley came close for The Hammers with a fierce drive from 20 yards that flew just over.

West Ham were now putting Town under a lot of pressure and Kyel Reid's cross came very close to floating over Petursson and dropping under the bar.

On 70, Peters won Town a corner and Scott Mitchell's header flew straight into the grateful arms of Bywater.

Six minutes later, the visitors had a goal disallowed. A good shot that could well have been heading in anyway was deflected past Pétursson but it was ruled offside.

Town made their second substitution a minute later when James Krause replaced Darryl Knights. On 83, Edward Upson came on for Cathal Lordan.

The Blues secured the game on 90 when Peters set up Upson with a superb pass and Upson coolly finished from 12 yards.

A good performance from a young Town side, with Mitchell, Lordan and Leabon standing out.

Ipswich Town: 1 Óskar Pétursson, 2 Luke Webster, 3 Jay McEveley, 4 Liam Trotter, 5 Scott Mitchell (c), 6 Russell Short, 7 Jaime Peters, 8 Cathal Lordan (16 Edward Upson, 83), 9 Sam Parkin (15 Ollie Fenn, 45), 10 Darryl Knights (12 James Krause, 77) and 11 Kieran Leabon. Unused subs: 13 Tony Boto and 14 Kurt Robinson.

West Ham United: 1 Stephen Bywater, 2 Jemel Henry, 3 Joe Widdowson, 4 Liam White, 5 Darren Blewitt (c), 6 Jack Collison, 7 Ishmael Welsh (14 Zavon Hines, 80), 8 David Cowley, 9 Jack Jeffrey (15 Fraye, 70), 10 Hogan Ephraim and 11 Kyel Reid. Unused Subs: 12 Ryan Andrews, 13 Eren Kamel (GK), 16 Kevin Keen and 17 Lee Hales. Att: 510.

Report by James Ager.

Photo: Action Images

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