Jack Marriott scored twice and Elliott Hewitt, Darren McQueen and Dylan Connolly once each as Town’s U21s beat Charlton Athletic 5-1 at Portman Road.
Dean Gerken, Tyrone Mings and Stephen Hunt were also amongst the starters for Mark Kennedy’s side, which also included 20-year-old central defender Josh Yorwerth, who has been with Cardiff City’s youth set-up and has been capped by Wales at U16, U19 and U21 levels.
In front of the watching Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor, Town began the game strongly and went ahead in the seventh minute when Connolly made a sped into the Charlton area.
The Irish U21 international looked set to shoot but took the ball wide to the right and instead cut it back to Jack Marriott. Keeper Dillon Phillips blocked his first shot but the striker, who is on loan at Colchester for the rest of the season but able to play for Town's U21s, lashed the rebound into the roof of the net.
Charlton should have equalised on 14 when Michael Kennedy was fed in behind the Town backline but Gerken came off his line quickly to stand tall and paw his lob away.
On 24 Marriott sent Connolly away down the right and the Irishman whipped over a low ball towards Darren McQueen but keeper Phillips claimed ahead of the striker.
Charlton were awarded a penalty in the 31st minute when skipper Matt Clarke slid in and felled Kennedy on the byline on the right. There was little argument from the Town players.
Karlan Ahearne-Grant took the spotkick but hit the ball far too close to Gerken and the keeper saved to his left.
The Blues doubled their lead in the 34th minute when Hewitt smashed a stunning strike across Phillips, off the post and into the net from the right edge of the area.
Two minutes later Town made it three when Henshall burst away on the left and cut the ball back to Darren McQueen, who diverted into the net from eight yards.
The Blues, who had been very much on top without having to play particularly well against an inexperienced and largely unthreatening Charlton outfit, were unable to add further to their lead before the break.
Charlton came close to pulling a goal back five minutes after the restart, Jack Munns lashing a 25-yard strike against Gerken’s right post with the keeper motionless.
A minute later, Henshall broke between Levander Pyke and sub George Pessima on the left and cut the ball across. It struck a defender and fell for Connolly, who slammed Town’s fourth goal into the net from 10 yards.
Marriott came within inches of making it 5-0 on 55, heading half-time sub Ben Wyatt’s cross from the left onto the crossbar.
The visitors pulled a goal back just before the hour when Pyke crossed from the right beyond trialist Yorwerth and sub Josh Umerah slid home from close range.
Soon after, Connolly limped off with what looked like an ankle injury, Kyle Hammond taking over at right-back and Hewitt moving into midfield.
On 65 Marriott made it 5-1, applying the final touch from close range after Yorwerth had found Henshall with a superb crossfield ball, the winger using his pace to burst past Pyke and cut across the six-yard box.
Marriott had grown in confidence having scored his goals and on 70 sped into the area but was thwarted as he looked to complete his hat-trick.
At the other end, Rhys Browne scraped wide from the edge of the box when Umerah was better placed to his left.
Late on Ahearne-Grant shot wide and a frustrated Umerah hit an effort into Gerken’s arms but the game had long been over as a contest.
Town had done more than enough to convincingly win the game without ever needing to stretch themselves.
The young Charlton side had been unable to cope with the pace of Henshall, putting in his best performance for a while, and Connolly down the flanks.
Gerken was largely untested, aside from the penalty, having stood little chance with the goal, while Mings was comfortable during his time on the field.
Hunt played a tigerish anchor role in central midfield, barking instructions throughout, while trialist Yorwerth was part of a Town backline which was never overly troubled by Charlton’s strikers but will be disappointed with the Addicks’ goal, although delighted with his pass which led to the fifth goal.
U21s: Gerken, Hewitt, Mings (Wyatt 46), Benyu, Yorwerth, Clarke (c), Connolly (Hammond 63), Hunt, McQueen (Ramadan 74), Marriott, Henshall. Unused: Crowe, Robinson.
Charlton: Phillips (c), Pyke, Edwards, Charles-Cook, Monlouis, Thomas, Munns, Cumberbatch, Ahearne-Grant, Smith, Kennedy. Subs: Pessima, Mitov, Gerard, Browne, Umerah. Referee: Paul Burnham.