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Town XI Win at Chelmsford - Ipswich Town News

A young Town XI beat Vanarama Conference South side Chelmsford City 4-2 in a pre-season friendly at Melbourne Park on Friday evening, with a brace from Darren McQueen (pictured) and strikes from Teddy Bishop and Byron Lawrence securing the win.

Mark Kennedy's side took an eighth-minute lead when McQueen lashed home a volley from 25 yards after the ball fell kindly for him.

The hosts twice came close to equalising with Mark Hughes dragging a shot just wide before Luke Callander got the better of George Fowler and lifted his effort just over the bar.

Clarets stopper Niklas Freund did well to keep out Lawrence's fierce drive but he was powerless to prevent McQueen doubling Town's advantage on 24. The former Spurs youngster was played in on goal by strike partner Monty Patterson and coolly finished past Freund.

The Essex side pulled a goal back two minutes later - Marvin Ekpiteta's ball over the top allowed Callander to shrug off Fowler and slot the ball between Michael Crowe's legs.

Town started the second half well and restored their two-goal advantage five minutes after the restart. Sub Shane McLoughlin cut the ball back from the right which allowed Patterson to tee up Teddy Bishop, who stroked the ball into the net from 12 yards.

Omar Sowunmi's chipped through ball presented Cemal Ramadan with a great chance to score, but sub keeper Max Hunter came out to block his goalbound effort.

Ramadan was involved in Town's fourth on 70 minutes - volleying Ben Wyatt's deep cross back across goal for Lawrence to head home from close range.

The home side scored the final goal of the game give minutes later when Christian Smith curled a fine left-footed free-kick around the Town wall and past Crowe.

Town put in a solid performance against a physical Chelmsford side, which included recently released Blues midfielder Amir Berkane and Joe Ward, who spent time on trial at Playford Road last summer. Bishop caught the eye in midfield, while McQueen took his two goals extremely well.

Meanwhile, the Blues' U18s are in friendly action against Watford at Playford Road on Saturday morning (KO 11am).

Town XI: Crowe, Robinson (Emmanuel 61), Wyatt, Willbye (Benyu 65), Fowler, Sowunmi, Galvin (McLoughlin 46), Bishop, McQueen, Patterson (Ramadan 61), Lawrence. Unused: McDermid.

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