Ronan Murray was sent off for a headbutt as Town's U21 side beat Brighton 1-0 at Playford Road this morning, Nathan Ellington scoring the goal after 31 minutes.
The visitors had the first chance of the game when Shamir Goodwin rounded Michael Crowe in the Town goal before missing the target with his effort.
Anton Rodgers hit the bar for the Seagulls soon after with a 20-yard strike, while at the other end Murray dinked an effort wide after Ellington's flick.
Moments after Cormac Burke's effort had been deflected onto the roof of the net, Ellington opened the scoring. Byron Lawrence provided an excellent cross from the right and the striker, playing as one of three permitted overage outfield players, slid in and directed the ball past keeper Grant Smith.
However, just four minutes later, Town were reduced to ten men when Murray was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball headbutt on Brighton defender Theo Jones.
Despite this setback, Luke Hyam saw two headers from Burke crosses hit the bar inside a couple of minutes.
In between Hyam's two headers, captain Jack Ainsley produced a tremendous last-ditch block to prevent Solly March from equalising.
On the stroke of half-time, March was played through on goal but he pulled his shot wide of the target.
Town replaced right-back Elliott Hewitt at half-time, with first-year scholar Kyle Hammond taking over. Hewitt again showed his attacking instinct and desire to get forward, at least while Town had their full quota of players on the field.
Brighton's best chance of the match came ten minutes after the break. They hit Town on the counter and the ball eventually reached Goodwin, but he dragged his shot wide from six yards out.
Ellington was working hard up front and almost scored his second goal when he took a long ball from Joe Whight down before turning his marker and shooting over the bar.
March fired a dipping thunderbolt just over Crowe's bar after robbing Cheick Kourouma of possession in midfield, prior to Matt McGiveron heading wide of the target as Town held on for the win.
The Blues had been forced to defend for the majority of the second half, but the whole team worked hard and prevented the visitors from forcing Crowe into any meaningful action.
Ellington's skill and workrate in an often isolated front role was appreciated by those in attendance, and Lawrence showed flashes of his skill and promise on the left wing. Kourouma looked short of match fitness, while Ainsley and Whight defended well throughout.
U21s: Crowe, Hewitt (Hammond 46), October, Hyam (Thorsteinsson 79), Ainsley, Whight, Lawrence, Kourouma, Ellington (Marriott 75), Murray, Burke. Unused: Marsden, Galvin.
Report: James Ager