A strong Town reserve side defeated Tiptree United 5-0 at their Chapel Road ground on Thursday evening. Jordan Rhodes netted twice in the first half with Alex Bruce, Jack Ainsley and Billy Clarke scoring after the break, although Town should have won by many, many more.
Jordan Rhodes, notably without a goal so far in pre-season, should have opened the scoring in the second minute but shot across the face of goal.
But the striker didn't have to wait too much longer for his goal with Jaime Peters threading him through in the 10th minute. Rhodes took the ball around the home keeper before tapping home.
Rhodes, who was a constant threat in the early stages, should have made it two on 15 when he broke through on the right and hit a shot off the keeper's left post which a defender somehow deflected behind for a corner.
The Blues continued to totally dominate, create chances and miss them. Rhodes saw a header saved in the 23rd minute, captain for the night Richard Naylor cannoning a header off the bar from the resultant corner.
Peters curled a 25-yarder wide, then Bowditch shot past the post, prior to Billy Clarke shooting straight at the keeper and Trotter going over from a Rhodes lay-back when he ought to have done much better.
Town's second goal finally came in the 40th minute when Dan Harding brought the ball into the area on the left and found Rhodes on the edge of the box. This time luck was with the Town frontman, the goalkeeper diving over the ball and allowing it into his net.
There was just time for Dan Harding to lash a shot wildly somewhere deep into the village before the referee blew for half-time.
Reserve team boss Chris Kiwomya, who was joined at the game by boss Jim Magilton and coaches Steve Foley and Bryan Klug, withdrew Richard Naylor at the break, Ed Upson coming into midfield, Jaime Peters moving to right-back and Chris Casement to centre-half. Alex Bruce took the captain's armband.
The home side introduced former Town youth midfielder Kevin Inglis shortly after the break, while Owen Garvan, Alan Lee, Alan Quinn and Gary Roberts watched from the sidelines.
Upson was quickly into the action, heading a good chance across the face of goal with the half only two minutes old.
The Blues continued to miss chances, Dean Bowditch, playing in an unusual central midfield role, having a 20-yard strike well saved.
On 50 a Dan Harding shot from a similar distance was equally well dealt with by the keeper, but from the corner the Blues added to their lead. Harding whipped the ball in and Alex Bruce rose to score his first goal for the Blues in any game in his two years at the club.
Rhodes shot wide from a freekick, before midfielder Jai Reason, central defender Paul Watson and full-back Kurt Robinson took over from Jaime Peters, Veliche Shumulikoski and Alex Bruce. Chris Casement was handed the captain's role.
The Blues continued to create and miss chances in great numbers, Liam Trotter sent in a low ball for Dean Bowditch which the keeper saved with his feet, prior to Jack Ainsley taking over from Jordan Rhodes, who on another night would have had a hat-trick, although he was by no means Town's most profligate player.
Upson played in Ainsley on 74 but the academy striker shot straight at the keeper. Billy Clarke, who looked desperate to score, was thwarted once again by the home glovesman as the game moved into the final quarter of an hour.
Liam Trotter headed on to the top of the cross bar, then Jack Ainsley got on the scoresheet, rebounding after Clarke's shot from the edge of the area had been saved. Bowditch went wide, then Clarke hit a shot past the post from out on the right.
Just as it appeared it wasn't going to be the Irishman's night, Dan Harding sent in a superb ball from the left and Clarke buried it from six yards to complete the scoring.
A very comfortable night for the Blues, Tiptree having only one shot on goal of note, which Shane Supple dealt with very easily. Town created chance after chance and really ought to have left Essex having netted double figures with a lack of sharpness in front of goal from virtually everyone up front or in midfield.
Town: Supple, Casement, Harding, Trotter, Naylor (Upson 46), Bruce (Watson 60), Peters (Robinson 60), Shumulikoski (Reason 60), Rhodes (Ainsley 66), Bowditch. Clarke. Unused: Ward.