An Ipswich Town XI defeated Ridgeons League side Hadleigh United 3-1 at their Millfield ground on Saturday afternoon. David Cawley (pictured) cancelled out Chris Dennett's opener for the home side before second half goals from Sam Brandon and Caolan Lavery secured the win for Chris Kiwomya's side.
Town included out-of-favour frontman Kevin Lisbie, who has been training with the youths, as well as Troy Brown and Jack Ainsley, who both played the second half at Histon on Friday evening. The rest of the side was made up of young professionals, scholars and schoolboys.
In a fairly quiet opening period, Jamie Griffiths had Town's best chance when he shot straight at keeper Luke Whitwell from inside the area.
However, Hadleigh took the lead on 23 minutes when Chris Dennett smashed a first-time, left-foot volley past Town keeper Ian McLoughlin following a cross from the right. The ball flew into the corner of the net and Town's keeper stood no chance of saving a strike of such quality.
After a short drinks break in the sweltering heat, Town had a great chance to equalise but having beaten the offside trap, Lisbie attempted to lob the keeper and saw his effort land miserably over the bar. It was a finish from a striker who is clearly short of confidence and one that wouldn't have impressed watching manager Roy Keane.
Ben Deacon pulled a shot just wide of McLoughlin's post as Hadleigh applied pressure to the Town goal before David Cawley grabbed an equaliser on 37. Lisbie's through ball allowed the Irish midfielder to round Whitwell and slot the ball into an empty net.
Town made two pre-planned substitutions at half-time with Josh Meekings and Callum Bennett replacing Troy Brown and Jack Ainsley in defence.
Cawley headed straight at Whitwell following a cross from sub Bennett before Town made a host of substitutions, with new academy recruit Elliott Scotcher, who was recently named in a Wales U17 squad, making his first public appearance in a Town shirt.
Within minutes of entering the action, Canadian U17 international striker Caolan Lavery should have put Town ahead but he skied his effort over the bar from six yards out.
On 74, Town did take the lead after good work on the right from Cormac Burke allowed Sam Brandon to side-foot the ball into the net.
Josh Carson's low drive was then deflected just wide of the post before the Northern Irish U17 international midfielder pulled the ball back to Lavery, who this time made no mistake from six yards out to net Town's third with two minutes left.
Lisbie showed some decent touches but his inability to find the net let the former Charlton striker down. Town were made to work hard for the win by a spirited Hadleigh side in difficult playing conditions, but David Cawley and Luke Hyam controlled the midfield before being substituted.
Town XI: McLoughlin, Ainsley (Bennett 46 (Jones 83)), Dunbar (McKeown 67), Hyam (Carson 67), Brown (Meekings 46), Eastman (Whight 67), Lambe (Burke 67), Cawley (Scotcher 67), Lisbie (Lavery 67), Clark (Murray 67) and Griffiths (Brandon 67).
Match report and photo James Ager