Connor Wickham netted twice as Town’s reserves defeated Northampton’s second string 6-4 at Portman Road this afternoon. Jack Ainsley, Jamie Griffiths, Ed Upson and Ronan Murray were also on the scoresheet.
Ainsley opened the scoring in the fifth minute when he chipped the keeper having latching onto the loose ball after a Wickham effort was saved.
On 16 Wickham, back after his groin injury, made it two when he burst through into the area, beat a defender, rounded the keeper and scored.
A minute later, Reggie Lambe crossed and Griffiths headed home when on his knees. Almost immediately, it was four, Ainsley crossed, a defender missed the ball and Wickham arrived on the blindside to net his second.
After the break, Billy McKay pulled two goals back for the visitors, then just after the hour, Upson made it 5-2, superbly netting a Lambe cross.
Troy Brown scored an own goal when trying to clear in the 63rd minute, then McKay completed his hat-trick, before Ronan Murray ended the afternoon’s scoring by following up after a Wickham shot had been saved.
Wickham again impressed for Town, while Colin Healy had another decent game in midfield with Owen Garvan and Reggie Lambe also doing well.
Manager Roy Keane watched the full 90 minutes along with assistant Tony Loughlan.
Reserves: McLoughlin, Ainsley, Dunbar, Garvan, Brown, Eastman (Meekings 70), Lambe, Upson (Murray 75), Wickham, Healy, Griffiths (Cawley 46). Unused: Brandon, Lavery.
Thanks to Terry Roberts for the report.