A strong Town U21 side started their Professional Development League 2 South Division campaign with a 1-0 win against Swansea City at Playford Road on Monday afternoon, with Wales U21 international Elliott Hewitt netting the only goal during the second half.
Neither Jack Collison nor Darren Ambrose was included in the 16, despite manager Mick McCarthy having said he intended to take a look at the two free agents who have been training with the Blues in match action against the Swans.
Mark Kennedy’s side started well and Cory Galvin's close-range effort was blocked by visitors’ keeper David Cornell, then later in the half skipper Matt Clarke was inches away from connecting with Teddy Bishop's freekick.
The Swans started to come more in to the game though, and Michael Crowe produced two impressive stops to deny Connor Roberts and then Liam Shephard as half-time approached.
Swansea defender Henry Jones was extremely lucky to not be dismissed on 53 when he crudely brought Bishop down as the midfielder was bearing down on goal. Kevin Bru curled the resultant freekick just wide of the post.
Town won the game with 15 minutes remaining. Balint Bajner's floated cross from the left allowed Hewitt to out-jump his marker and nod the ball back across Cornell and into the net.
It was a good performance from the Blues with Bishop likely to have impressed the watching McCarthy and assistant Terry Connor.
Bajner was more involved during the second period, as was Bru, while youngster Clarke again looked comfortable throughout at centre-half.
U21s: Crowe, Hewitt, Parr, Bru, Sowunmi, Clarke (c), Galvin (McLoughlin 78), Bishop, McQueen, Bajner, Henshall. Unused: Marsden, Robinson, Willbye, Ramadan.
Swansea: Cornell, Roberts, Hanley, Jones (Scott), Kingsley, Tancock (c), Shephard (Hedges), King, Samuel, March, Gorre (Hedges). Unused: Zabret, Gogic.