A very young Town reserves side progressed to the semi-finals of the LB Group Suffolk Premier Cup by beating Haverhill Rovers 4-0 at Portman Road despite playing the last hour of the game with 10 men. Reggie Lambe was red-carded for a stamp on the half hour mark as Caolan Lavery and Billy Clark netted two goals each.
Lavery went close to opening the scoring in the fifth minute when he hit both posts with a header.
The first goal took another 20 minutes to come with Lavery running through and slipping the ball past the keeper from an acute angle.
Town were reduced to 10 men on the half hour when Bermudian international winger Reggie Lambe was shown a straight red card for a retaliatory stamp on a Haverhill player after he felt he’d been fouled.
Despite the reduction in numbers, midfielder Billy Clark added to the Blues’ lead just before the break with a 20-yard freekick which struck the bar before crossing the line.
Clark added the third on 64 after a good run from Northern Irish U17 international full-back Rory McKeown.
Lavery completed the scoring in the 83rd minute, running on to a through ball and slipping past the keeper.
After the sending off, the young Blues, watched by manager Roy Keane, spent most of the game sitting back and defending in depth with Tom Eastman and Troy Brown impressive at the centre of the defence.
Reserves: McLoughlin, Bennett, McKeown, Cawley, Eastman, Brown, Griffiths (Brandon 72), Carson, Clark (Cramner 82), Lavery, Lambe.
Thanks to Chris Prime and Andy Pearl.