Town’s U21s bounced back from Friday's 3-0 defeat at Barnet with an excellent 4-1 victory over Bristol City at Playford Road this afternoon. Jack Marriott (pictured) scored twice, either side of half-time, with sub Cemal Ramadan also grabbing a brace late on.
Ipswich lined up in a flat 4-4-2, with Jason Brown, making his first appearance for the club in goal, named as the only overage player. Arsenal trialist Zach Fagan played centre -back in what was a fully under 18 outfield bar first-year pro Cormac Burke at right-back.
It was clear from the off that the Robins would be a big physical test for our young side as they were a much taller and bigger side and they didn't hold back with a few challenges. The only two Ipswich players over six foot were the two centre-backs, Fagan and schoolboy Matthew Clarke.
In the first action of the game, Jack Marriott did well down the right but his cross was just too high for Mark Timlin coming in from the left wing.
Three minutes later, it was Timlin who delivered a superb cross to an unmarked Cory Galvin at the back post, but the Irishman’s header went wide when he really should have done better.
Just after this a ball broke to Aaron Holloway who was clipped by Fagan when through on goal, the referee judged that it wasn’t an obvious goalscoring opportunity but surprisingly elected to not book him. The freekick was fired well over the bar by the cream-mohicaned Tobi Ajala.
After 34 minutes, Holloway broke through on goal after an excellent run, however, he couldn't hit the target as his left-footed shot was dragged well wide.
He was made to pay on 41 minutes when Mark Timlin robbed the full-back, drove forward and past a man with real intent before finding Jack Marriott with an inch-perfect through ball. Marriott curved his run excellently before taking a touch and hammering the ball into the top corner left-footed.
Two minutes later Ipswich nearly extended their lead, Marriott found Byron Lawrence on the edge of the box and he shifted the ball on to his left foot before hitting an effort that Dylan Castenhiera did well to keep out.
The loose ball fell to Amir Berkane who couldn't get a meaningful shot away. Shortly after Luke Dobie had a freekick which Brown tipped over the bar with relative ease before the half time whistle went.
At the start of the second half, Fagan picked up a yellow card after two clumsy challenges in succession on the left wing - the first, and only, booking of the game from what was proved to be a very lenient referee.
In the 56th minute Bristol City were back on level terms, a cross-field ball wasn't dealt with and Kevin Krans got a shot away. Brown did well to keep it out but the rebound fell to Charlie Lossaso who converted the chance with ease. The equaliser had been coming for a few minutes.
Just after the hour, Marriott chased a hopeful through ball and somehow outmuscled two defenders to beat them and the keeper to the ball and toe poke it in. He was third favourite, at best, to get to the ball and showed great desire and willingness to get there and was rewarded with his eighth goal of the season for the U21s, to go with the 16 he has scored for the U18s.
It was substitute Ramadan who scored Ipswich's third in the 71st minute with a delicate lob after Clarke had headed a goalkick 35 yards back down the pitch. It was poor defending but an excellent header from Clarke and Ramadan made the finish look simple when it was far from it.
Ipswich were well in the ascendancy at this point and the game was being played entirely in the Bristol City half, but there was a scare at the other end when Fagan brought a player down on the edge of the box and had a very long talking to, and presumably, final warning from the referee.
The win was wrapped up in the 86th minute when Leddy hooked Burke's corner goalwards and Irish U16 international Ramadan, a schoolboy making his first appearance for the U21s, got the final touch.
On balance 4-1 may have been a bit harsh on the visitors but a young Ipswich side stood up to the physical challenge excellently and in Jack Marriott have a striker who scores almost every time an opportunity presents itself.
Zach Fagan, who has also spent time with Millwall recently, looked decent on the ball and in the air, but committed at least four fouls which were probably worthy of at least a yellow card and this won't have gone unnoticed.
Jason Brown will be disappointed with the goal he conceded but otherwise looked very solid and was very vocal, helping the young players through the game and did an excellent job in that respect as the senior pro.
U21s: Brown, Burke, Leddy, Berkane, Fagan, Clarke, Galvin, Bishop (Ramadan 59), Marriott, Lawrence, Timlin (Robinson 78). Unused: Crowe, Sowunmi, Willbye.
Report thanks to @ITFC_Academy