Ben Morris, Shane McLoughlin and Conor McKendry were on target as Town’s U23s deservedly defeated Hull City 3-1 at Playford Road this afternoon.
Gerard Nash’s side went in front inside the third minute, midfielder Kundai Benyu’s clever pass sending Morris through on goal and the England U18 international beat Hull keeper Jonathan Saltmer with his now customary confidence.
The 17-year-old frontman made a lively start to the game and on six cut in from the left at pace leaving his defender behind him but his low cross was cut out ahead of McLoughlin.
Greg Olley shot wide for the visitors on nine but three minutes later the Tigers got back on terms when Jarrod Bowen headed home a right-wing cross from close range giving Blues keeper Harry Wright no chance.
The Premier League side got on top having equalised following Town’s strong beginning to the game and on the quarter hour they claimed a penalty when Jonathan Edwards flicked the ball up on to Flynn Downes’s hand inside the box but referee Matty Buonassisi waved away the protests.
Other officials may well have pointed to the spot, although it would have been harsh on Downes, who was playing in an unfamiliar right-back role.
Midfielder Adam McDonnell, back after five weeks out injured, shot wide from distance on 21 and five minutes later Town extended their lead, rather against the run of play at that point in the game.
Morris sent over an inch-perfect low cross from the right and McLoughlin slotted home at the far post.
Josh Tyman shot just over for the Tigers from a freekick on the half hour, then two minutes later Wright did well to get down to his left to stop Ben Hinchliffe’s low shot after he had been found in space on the left of the Town area.
Hull keeper Saltmer did well to thwart Morris on 39 after James Blanchfield’s long pass had found the striker breaking into the area from the right.
The Blues had regained the initiative and three minutes before the break Benyu went close to making it 3-1 when his freekick from the left curled through a crowd of players before striking the post and falling safely.
Four minutes after the restart McKendry curled wide, then on 51 Hinchliffe scraped an effort from distance wide for the visitors.
ðŸ"¹ VIDEO | Gerard Nash's #itfc U23's defeated Hull City 3-1 yesterday at Playford Road, with the goals now available to watch #StrongerAsOne pic.twitter.com/6NbiyI3urh– Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) October 11, 2016
Blanchfield was booked for a foul in the 58th minute, then on the hour Morris again went close to adding to Town’s lead.
Hull defender Clackstone misjudged a diagonal ball and Morris brought the ball in from the left before shooting not too far over.
McKendry joined Blanchfield in the book for a foul on 63 and Bowen was fortunate not to have his name taken for shoving the Northern Irishman twice following the challenge.
With Town having been very much in control since the break McDonnell shot over in the 72nd minute.
Five minutes later the Blues sealed the win, their third of the season. After a well-worked move on the left, Morris cut the ball across and McKendry finished from close range.
After over-fussy official Buonassisi had yellow-carded Benyu and McLoughlin, McKendry was replaced by Australian striker Ben Folami, whose scholarship with the Blues was recently rubber-stamped.
With six minutes remaining McDonnell volleyed into the ground to keeper Saltmer after more good work from Morris on the left.
In the 87th minute Brett McGavin took over from McDonnell, who will have been pleased with his display on his return to action, then Tyman shot wide from distance for the Tigers.
Benyu suffered a knock in injury time and was replaced by 17-year-old defender Tyler French, who is on trial from AFC Sudbury.
A well-deserved victory for a young U23s side - who were watched by boss Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor - with McDonnell the only player to have featured in a competitive first-team game.
Having got in front for the second time during Hull’s spell on top in the first half, a Blues victory never looked in doubt after the break with the midfield in charge and playing some very neat and tidy football at times.
Striker Morris was the standout man, netting his fourth U23s goal of the season and picking up two assists, while McLoughlin was a similarly lively foil.
U23s: Wright, Downes, Webber, Blanchfield, Woolfenden, C Smith (c), Benyu (French 90), McDonnell (McGavin 87), McLoughlin, Morris, McKendry (Folami 82). Subs: Hayes, Meldrum.
Hull City: Saltmer, Clackstone, Tyman, Barty, Maslen-Jones, Rodgers, Annan, Hinchliffe, Edwards (McKenzie 72), Olley, Bowen. Subs: Andrew, Ter-Horst, Bartworth, Lofts.