Town's U18 side missed two penalties but just about managed to defeat a spirited Southwold Town side 1-0 in their annual pre-season friendly on the Common on Friday evening. Second-year scholar Cemal Ramadan netted the game's only goal shortly after half-time and was one of two Town players to miss from the spot.
Southwold's Russ Palmer attempted an audacious lob early on from the halfway line, but Town keeper Sam McDermid saw the ball drop just wide of a post.
The Blues started to get more into the game and Amon Walton Owen hit a 25-yard drive just over before Ronaldo Jones somehow headed Monty Patterson's whipped cross over the bar.
The first of Town's chances from the spot came just after the half hour mark when Patterson was clipped by keeper Jimmy Bligh inside the area. Patterson stepped up himself but former Town youth keeper Bligh dived to his right to smother the New Zealand U20 international's effort.
Patterson looked lively and came close to making amends when a fierce shot struck a post five minutes before the interval.
Town made a host of changes at the break and one of the substitutes, Cemal Ramadan, opened the scoring on 49 when he produced a fine finish to beat Bligh from just outside the box.
Soon after, the Irish U17 international flicked the ball on for Sam Ford to run onto but Bligh was out quickly to block his effort.
With just over 15 minutes remaining Town right-back Josh Emmanuel was bought down in the box but Ramadan's penalty hit the outside of a post and went wide.
However, the hosts were unable to breach a strong Town defence and the Blues looked comfortable throughout, perhaps without creating as many chances as their possession should have seen.
Meanwhile, former Blues winger Jordan Adekunle is on trial with Skrill Premier side Dartford. The 18-year-old, released at the end of last season, came on as a second half sub as the Darts lost 3-2 at home to Leyton Orient in a friendly on Friday evening.
U18s: McDermid (Trialist 46), Emmanuel (Woolfenden 46), Kendrick (Daly 46), Benyu (Ellis 46), Fowler, C Smith (J Smith 46), Jones (Ingram 46), Trialist (Trialist 46), Patterson (Ford 46), McLoughlin (Ramadan 46), Walton Owen (Emmanuel 62).