A Town U21 side including Stephen Hunt and former West Ham man Jack Collison, who is currently training with the Blues, won 3-1 away against Vanarama Conference North club Lowestoft Town on Tuesday night, with Matt Clarke netting a brace and Cemal Ramadan once.
Despite Town having most of the first-half possession it was the hosts who created the best chances with Joe Marsden blazing over and Reece Edwards-King heading over from a good position.
However, Town opened the scoring in the final minute of the half when Teddy Bishop's left-wing freekick was headed in unchallenged by Clarke.
A few minutes after the restart sub Shane McLoughlin's effort from just outside the area was deflected onto the bar, before Hunt's freekick was pushed away by Jake Jessup.
Clarke scored a similar goal to his first just before the hour when he nodded in Hunt's freekick, and Ramadan increased the advantage on 66 with a confident finish after Darren McQueen's cut back.
Collison
The Trawlerboys pulled a goal back on 78 after a foul on Hodd allowed former Blue Jack Ainsley to tuck away a penalty.
Collison looked understandably short of match fitness, with Bishop impressing next to him in central midfield. Hunt, playing his first game since last season after suffering a calf injury, showed glimpses of his quality, while Clarke and George Fowler again looked comfortable at the back.
U21s: Crowe, Robinson (Emmanuel 72), Wyatt, Collison (Guldbrandsen 65), Fowler, Clarke, Galvin, Bishop, McQueen, Patterson (McLoughlin 46), Hunt. (Ramadan 60). Unused: Marsden.