Despite taking an early lead, Town's U18s suffered a 6-3 defeat and were knocked out of this season's Suffolk Premier Cup by Leiston at Victory Road on Tuesday night. Goals from Declan Daniels (pictured), Corrie Ndaba and Ben Folami weren't enough for Alan Lee's youngsters to prevent an experienced Leiston side advancing to the semi-finals.
The Ryman Premier League side included former Town young professionals Seb Dunbar, Jack Ainsley and Byron Lawrence in their starting line-up, alongside Joe Francis, who spent time on trial with the Blues during the 2006/07 season.
Town had the better of the opening play and Conor McKendry and Albert Wilton both came close before Daniels opened the scoring after 13 minutes.
Skipper Ross Meldrum beat Leiston keeper Charlie Beckwith to a loose ball close to the byline and lifted the ball into the six-yard box for Daniels to nod home.
This sparked the home side into life and Nick Hayes did well to beat Francis's low drive away, but he could do nothing to prevent a deserved equaliser on 25 when Christy Finch let fly from 25 yards out.
Beckwith parried Wilton's drive to safety shortly after but the home side took the lead on 38.
Some good work on the left from Matt Blake resulted in the ball eventually finding its way to Francis at the back post, and the former Blues trialist was left with a simple tap-in.
Three minutes later a low driven corner from the left was clinically met by centre-back Jake Hutchings, who sent the ball into the roof of the net to claim his first goal for Leiston.
Town mounted a fightback of sorts after the break when sub Steven Cahill's cross from the right was powerfully headed past Beckwith by left-back Ndaba, but the hosts restored their two-goal advantage within a minute when Blake finished well with a left-foot volley.
Shortly before the hour mark Cahill struck a fierce volley from outside the area which Beckwith somehow tipped onto the crossbar, but at the other end Hutchings grabbed his second with a back-post header following Ainsley's inviting cross from the left.
Hayes produced a number of impressive saves to keep the home side at bay, and on 81 Folami produced some neat footwork and an exquisite finish into the top left-hand corner of the net to reduce the arrears.
However, Leiston, who beat the Blues’ U18s 6-2 at the first round stage of the competition last year, sealed the win three minutes later when Hutchings completed a hat-trick of headers following a right-sided corner.
This was always going to be a tough ask for Town's youngsters and in the end, Leiston's experience and quality finishing shone through. Hayes kept his side in the game at times but Lee's side never let their heads drop and they contributed to a very entertaining game of football.
U18s: Hayes, Salaudeen (McGavin 66), Ndaba, Meldrum, Cathline, Webber, Wilton (Cahill 46), Blanchfield, Daniels, McKendry (Clements 74), Folami. Unused: Wright, Hughes. Att: 200.