Boss Roy Keane was amongst those watching as the Blues’ U18s defeated Southwold Town 8-0 in their annual friendly on Southwold Common on Thursday evening. Canadian striker Caolan Lavery (pictured) scored a hat-trick in a game played in three thirds.
The young Blues went ahead in the 14th minute when Northern Irish U17 international defender Rory McKeown scored an early contender for the goal of the season, lashing in a dipping strike from 35 yards.
Four minutes later, Tom Winter made it 2-0 when he headed home Jack Simmons’s cross from the left.
After the game’s first break, Simmons added the third after a scramble from a corner, then slid in the fourth after a strong run from impressive midfielder Cormac Burke and a cross from Callum Bennett. Jide Maduako slammed the fifth into the roof of the net after a corner in the 57th minute.
Lavery netted his three goals during the game’s final third, the first coming after Simmons had played him in on goal, the second-year scholar dinking the ball over the keeper.
With 13 minutes remaining McKeown sent in a low cross which Lavery put beyond the Southwold keeper.
In the 82nd minute Lavery was tripped inside the area and sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot to make it eight.
New U18s coach Mike Pejic took control of the side for the first time since he moved to the club, issuing instruction to his charges from the touchline throughout.
Keane watched from the sidelines along with first team coach Tony Loughlan and fitness coach Antonio Gomez.
Meanwhile, academy midfielder Elliot Scotcher and the Wales U17 side drew 1-1 with Norway in their second game at a friendly tournament in Sweden. The Welsh youngsters lost their first game 2-1 to Iceland. Scotcher was in the starting line-up and won his second cap.