Town’s U18s exited the FA Youth Cup at the third round stage, losing a penalty shoot-out 4-2 to Sunderland at Portman Road after normal time and extra-time had ended 1-1. Jack Willbye lashed in a brilliant 45-yard strike for the Blues in the first half with Lynden Gooch equalising for the visitors after the break.
Town almost got off to the perfect start in the third minute. After a freekick on the left, the ball fell to Byron Lawrence on the right of the area and the midfielder hit a shot which struck the underside of the bar but bounced the wrong side of the line for the Blues.
On 11 Town centre-half Omar Sowunmi made an important challenge inside the box after Ethan Robson had got behind his central defensive partner George Fowler, who is still a schoolboy.
Sunderland had most of the ball in the opening 20 minutes but without testing Town’s Wales U19 keeper Michael Crowe, aside from a weak effort from skipper Martin Smith.
Blues midfielder Amir Berkane, who spent pre-season with the Town first team squad, struck a shot from the edge of the box moments later, but hit a defender.
On 22 Lawrence, the only player in the Blues line-up with first team experience, saw a shot blocked then a clearance cannon against him and fly high and wide from the edge of the box.
Robson shot straight at Crowe on the half hour with the game having been an even affair overall, although with Town starting to get back on top. Moments later, Sunderland’s Andrew Nelson picked up the first booking for a foul on Ted Bishop.
Town went ahead in the 38th minute and what a goal it was. Central midfielder Willbye found himself in space 45 yards out and decided to try his luck. The ball visibly moved in the air as it beat confused Black Cats keeper Maks Stryjek.
After Thomas Beadling had got his name in the book for a foul, keeper Stryjek went some way towards making amends for his part in the Town goal when he tipped over Lawrence’s strike, the midfielder having been played in on the left of the area by Matthew Clarke.
The Blues were worthy of their lead at the break having been well on top having gone in front via Willbye’s superb goal. Town had started strongly but the Black Cats had had a decent spell midway through the half but without creating much of note.
Four minutes after the restart Bishop shot just over after a freekick 30 yards out which didn’t look the most rehearsed of routines.
Two minutes later, the Blues went even closer. Lawrence sent over a cross from the left but George Clarke scuffed as he prepared to take the final touch when he seemed destined to score. Soon after, Berkane was booked for a cynical foul as Sunderland broke.
The Black Cats got back on terms in the 53rd minute. American striker Gooch found himself space just outside the area before hitting a powerful low shot to Crowe’s left and into the net.
The goal had come largely against the run of the early second half play and the Blues weren’t far from going back in front in the 59th minute when a grounded Lawrence found Matthew Clarke, who shot just over from just inside the area.
Irish U17 international striker Cemal Ramadan replaced goalscorer Willbye just after the hour and moments later the first-year scholar shot over from the edge of the box from a George Clarke knockdown.
Bishop tricked his way into the area past a number of defenders in the 65th minute and looked set to score until keeper Stryjek just got a touch to the ball as he went round him. Even then the chance wasn’t gone with Ramadan and a number of other Town players in the area but eventually the ball was cleared.
Ramadan saw a shot deflect wide after a Lawrence freekick from the left had been half-cleared in the 75th minute with the Blues continuing to look more likely to score.
Three minutes later Lawrence sent in a dangerous cross from the right towards Berkane but somehow the ball was forced behind. The dangerous but tiring Bishop was replaced by Ed Ellis for the final 12 minutes
Town had keeper Crowe to thank in the 82nd minute when Nelson, one of two Black Cats players unmarked in the Blues box, hit a shot which the former IK Start player tipped over the bar.
Sunderland scorer Gooch went close again a minute later but shot into the sidenetting with the visitors ending normal time on the front foot.
As the game moved into its final scheduled five minutes Fowler superbly blocked Rees Greenwood’s effort from the edge of the box.
Town right-back Kyle Hammond was close to winning it for the Blues in the 89th minute when he took the ball into the area on the right but Beadling got across quickly to clear.
Referee Jonathan Burridge blew his whistle soon afterwards to signal extra-time. The Blues had had enough chances to win it before the Black Cats finished the half the better side and in the end might have snatched the victory.
The Blues went close soon after the restart, Ramadan hitting a low shot from a tight angle on the left which Stryjek finger-tipped wide.
A Ramadan shot deflected into the path of George Clarke but he was dispossessed. Soon after, the former Needham Market striker was replaced by schoolboy Sam Ford.
There were no further chances in the first half of extra-time, Matthew Clarke starting the second period with a strong run before being closed down inside the area.
Ramadan almost latched on to Clarke’s flick, the ball just bouncing out of the Irishman’s reach to keeper Stryjek.
Clarke looped a header to the Polish keeper in the 117th minute but the sides couldn’t be separated and the game went to penalties.
Ramadan scored the first for Town, then captain Smith equalised for the visitors. Town man of the match Lawrence hit his kick low and down the middle and keeper Stryjek saved at the second attempt. Ethan Robson put the Black Cats 2-1 in front.
Hammond slammed Town’s third kick straight down the middle, then Sunderland’s Greenwood did much the same to make it 3-2.
Blues skipper Robinson hit a low kick to Stryjek’s left and the Pole made his second save of the shoot-out. Thomas Robson netted his kick to win the tie for the Black Cats.
The defeat was harsh on Town, who had chances to win the game during the second half and looked the more likely scorers during extra-time.
Amongst those watching from the Cobbold Stand were former Blues Kieron Dyer, Titus Bramble and Jason Dozzell.
U18s: Crowe, Hammond, Robinson (c), Willbye (Ramadan 62), Fowler, Sowumni, Lawrence, Berkane, G Clarke (Ford 102), Bishop (Ellis 78), M Clarke. Subs: Jones, Marsden, Ellis, Ford.
Sunderland: Stryjek, Ellison (Lowrie 67) , Robson, Colquhoun, Beadling, Greenwood, Smith (c), Nelson, Gooch, McEvoy (Blinco 78). Subs: Burke, Stinson, Wright.