Academy striker Jack Marriott said there’s no better feeling than scoring at Portman Road after netting the opener as Russell Osman’s U18s beat Leeds United 2-0 to progress to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday evening.
Marriott was delighted to score in the Youth Cup for the second year running — he grabbed a late consolation in last season’s 3-2 defeat to Peterborough — having notched six in his last eight FA Premier Academy League matches, plus another for the reserves in the recent friendly against Spurs.
He says he’s always in the hunt for goals: "I’m always looking to score. I don’t expect myself to score but I want to score. Scoring at Portman Road, there’s not a better feeling.”
The 17-year-old found the opportunity to play on the main pitch in front of a larger than usual crowd exhilarating: "It’s very exciting, seeing all the fans, getting the applause.”
Previously with his local club Kettering Town, Marriott felt he and his team-mates needed a quick return to form after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Charlton at the weekend: "We needed to put in a good performance after Saturday. We didn’t have the best game and as a team we needed to gel together and put in a good performance today.”
After his goal had given Town the lead, the busy 5ft 8in tall striker felt the Blues saw out the second period professionally, with fellow frontman Jack Simmons taking his chance when it came: "We had the goal, we looked the keep a clean sheet in the second half and we worked as a team, fought it out and did really well.
"That’s what he’s there for. We’re both strikers, we both like to score goals and we both did our job.”
Marriott, who has been with Town for two years, says coach Osman has filled his players in on his Youth Cup-winning exploits in 1975: "We all know the history of the club and what the club has achieved, especially the youth team during Russell’s day.
"We’re looking to do the same but it was about grinding out a performance and getting the right result today.”
As for the fourth round, he’s not too concerned about who comes out of the hat: "Anyone really. We’re not really bothered, we’ll just take it as it comes, take it in our stride.
"I support Chelsea, but I probably wouldn’t want to play against them. Maybe in the semi-finals or the final, you never know!”