Ronan Murray and David Cawley netted the goals as a young Town second string side won 2-0 at Leiston. However, the evening was less than a success with Luciano Civelli and Alan Quinn substituted with injuries inside the first six minutes.
Quinn was first to succumb, pulling a groin muscle as he took a freekick only a minute into the game. Civelli wasn’t far behind him, jarring his knee in a solid challenge.
The Argentinian was substituted as a precaution, immediately icing the knee which suffered the multi-ligament injury which kept him out of action for 16 months. The left midfielder’s condition will be assessed tomorrow.
Town appeared to be unsettled by the early injuries - first-year pros David Cawley and Jamie Griffiths taking over in the Blues midfield - and Leiston went close to going in front when Danny Cunningham was sent through on goal only for Arran Lee-Barrett to pull off a fine save. Soon after, Mark Goldfinch’s shot deflected past the post.
Largely though, it was a game of few chances played on a pitch with a very fast top after heavy afternoon rain.
The Blues finally went in front in the 36th minute when Lee Martin’s cross from the left deflected into Ronan Murray’s path and the Republic of Ireland U19 international flicked the ball over keeper Jamie Stannard from close range.
Just before the break, Hourihane saw a freekick from 35 yards deflect and strike the post.
The second period was similarly short on goalscoring opportunities, Pablo Couñago failed to seriously test Stannard with an early strike, while Jack Ainsley also hit an effort.
Billy Clark replaced new signing Conor Hourihane in the 59th minute, the Irish youngster having put in a tidy if generally unspectacular display in the holding midfield role.
Three minutes later, the quiet Couñago was replaced by Brazilian trialist Marcus Picciarelli. The 20-year-old striker is currently with Rio de Janeiro side Macaé. Picciarelli, who began his trial with the Blues earlier in the week, showed some deft Pablo-esque touches in his time on the field, but found it hard to impose himself on the game.
The match almost boiled over in the 65th minute when Michael Brothers stood on the grounded Jamie Griffiths, Seb Dunbar reacting angrily and the referee having to calm things down.
Soon after, Leiston almost got back on terms when the ball scraped narrowly wide after a goalmouth scramble, then as the game moved into the final 10 minutes Danny Smy headed a left-wing cross against Tom Eastman, the home contingent calling for what would have been a very harsh penalty.
The Blues sealed the win in the 81st minute when Ronan Murray rode a couple of tackles on the edge of the area, then fed Jamie Griffiths to his left, the winger sending in a low ball which David Cawley bundled home.
Town deserved the win, although Leiston will be pleased with the way they matched the young Blues for large parts of the game. Boss Roy Keane watched the match from amongst the crowd, leaving reserves manager Chris Kiwomya to take control of the team.
Town XI: Lee-Barrett, Ainsley, Dunbar, Hourihane, Brown, Eastman, Martin, Quinn (Cawley 1), Couñago (Picciarelli 63), Murray, Civelli (Griffiths 6). Unused: McLoughlin, Lambe, McKeown. Att: 668.