Town's U18s came from a goal down to beat local rivals Norwich City 2-1 at Playford Road on Saturday morning. A brace from Caolan Lavery cancelled out George Francomb's early penalty for the visitors.
In a game rearranged from January, Norwich took the lead after 11 minutes when Town's Joe Whight, one of the academy's six new scholars, made a rash challenge just inside the area. Canaries' skipper George Francomb sent Ian McLoughlin the wrong way from the spot.
Town took just seven minutes to get back on level terms when Lavery latched onto a flick from Jamie Griffiths before taking the ball round keeper Remi Matthews and tucking it into the unguarded net.
Alex Stephens was finally cautioned after half an hour for a range of offences, the last of which was kicking the ball away and the visitors took the sensible option of replacing him at half-time.
Norwich continued to apply pressure to the Town goal and McLoughlin was forced into some fine saves to deny Patrick Demola and sub Josh Dawkin. Soon after, good link-up play between Jack Simmons and Aaron Jones almost enabled Town to take the lead, but for a last-ditch tackle from a visiting defender.
Town took the lead on 77 when Lavery beat keeper Matthews to the ball and referee Mr Crysell pointed to the spot for the second time in the game. Lavery picked himself up, only for his stuttering run-up to lead to a weak penalty which was saved by Matthews. However, the Canadian striker was first to the rebound and side-footed the ball into the net.
Town gave an U18s debut to David October who replaced Simmons with 10 minutes remaining before Sam Kelly forced McLoughlin to produce another wonder save - this time the Irish stopper tipping the ball over his crossbar from a fierce shot.
Jamie Griffiths picked up a yellow card in stoppage time but Town held on for the win in what was an entertaining and physical game played between two good, footballing sides.
Keeper McLoughlin made some outstanding saves, perhaps going some way to justifying the one-year contract extension he was offered last week. Lavery took his goals well and seems to have gained added confidence from finding the net and centre-backs Rory McKeown and Joe Whight looked assured throughout.
Town complete their season at the state-of-the-art Chelsea Academy on Saturday with a 12 noon kick-off.
U18s: McLoughlin, Bennett, Dunbar (c), Carson, McKeown, Whight, Jones, Brandon, Lavery, Simmons (October 81) and Griffiths. Unused: Winter, Welling and Acott.
Thanks to James Ager for the report.