x

Town Lose to Chelsea U18s - Ipswich Town News

Town's U18 side fell to a 2-1 defeat against their Chelsea counterparts at Playford Road on Saturday morning.

Town were without the injured Lewis Ward and Kurt Robinson, as well as striker Jordan Rhodes who has gone on loan to Oxford United.

The young Blues had the best chance of the first-half when striker Jack Ainsley somehow failed to convert from a few yards out after excellent play on the right from Joe Clemo.

Town took the lead on the half-hour mark when Scottish defender Paul Watson rose highest at the back post to score his first goal for the U18 side.

Chelsea controlled the majority of the second-half, and they grabbed an equaliser on 57 when French striker Gael Kakuta slotted the ball home after neat build-up play from Jacob Mellis.

Kakuta and Mellis both squandered good opportunities for the visitors, whilst Town midfielder Curtley Williams saw a looping header strike the Chelsea bar.

The visitors scored what proved to be the winner on 64 when Italian Fabio Borini finished well after a through-ball from Tom Taiwo had caught Town's defence out.

Town U18s: Plummer, Clemo, Roe, C Williams, Watson, Smith, Murphy (Lambe 71), Reason, Ainsley, Calver (Barrett 57) and Fenn (Hyam 57). Unused: Traveller and Clark.

Chelsea U18s: Taylor, Ahamed, Ofori-Twumasi, Bruma, Gordon, Taiwo (Philliskirk 67), Mellis (Tabor 87), Hibbert, Burini, Kakuta and Nielsen (Phillip 61). Unused: Saville and King.

What to read next:

U18s Host West Brom in First U18 Premier League Fixture
Town’s U18s will start their first ever U18 Premier League South campaign with a home game against West Bromwich Albion at Playford Road on Saturday 16th August (KO 11am).
Ndaba Completes Lecce Move
Former Town defender Corrie Ndaba has completed his move from Scottish Premiership Kilmarnock to Serie A Lecce.
McKenna: Hirst Primed For Good Season
Town boss Kieran McKenna believes striker George Hirst is “primed to have a good season” for the Blues, the frontman having netted three times in the Blues’ two public friendlies.
Hirst: Scotland Call-Up Has Made Me a Better Player
Town striker George Hirst says he has taken a lot from being in the Scotland squad and feels the international recognition has made him a better player.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Town 'Willing to Pay Hackney £35,000-a-Week'
Town are reportedly willing to pay Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney £35,000-a-week, TWTD having revealed that the Blues had made an approach for the 23-year-old almost a fortnight ago.
U21s Defeated By Luton
A strong Blues U21s side was beaten 2-1 by Luton Town at Bent Lane in a pre-season friendly on Saturday afternoon with Tommy Taylor's first-half strike cancelled out after the break by a much-improved Hatters side.
U19s Draw and Lose Final Games at Czech Tournament
Town’s U19s finished lost one and drew one of today’s place play-off matches at the Zlaty Kahan tournament in Czechia.
Hirst: Early Confrontation Sign of Morsy's High Standards
George Hirst has revealed he almost came to blows with departed captain Sam Morsy early in his Town career, but believes the incident was illustrative of the high standards maintained by the former Blues skipper.
Former Town Defender Ndaba Set For Serie A
Former Town defender Corrie Ndaba is set to join Serie A Lecce from Scottish Premiership Kilmarnock, according to reports in Italy.