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U23s Net Nine at Grays - Ipswich Town News

Town's U23s netted four times in just five first-half minutes on their way to a 9-1 thrashing of Grays Athletic at Aveley's Parkside ground on Wednesday evening.

The young Blues included Barry Cotter at centre-back, Jack Lankester on the right side of midfield and Ben Morris (pictured) up front with former Grays player Kai Brown - the match was arranged as part of the deal which saw the 17-year-old join the Blues in January - on the bench.

It took Town just 17 seconds to open the scoring when England U19 international Morris raced onto a ball forward from Cotter and lifted it over advancing keeper Anthony Page.

Morris blazed over a few minutes later and Page did well to deny Ben Folami and then Ross Marshall from the resultant corner.

On 21 captain Shane McLoughlin knocked the ball down to Morris in the area and the frontman selflessly rolled the ball across to Folami, who took a touch before finding the net.

McLoughlin was again involved in Town's third on the half hour. The Republic of Ireland U19 international played a clever ball through to release Armando Dobra, who took the ball forward and confidently found the net for the sixth time this pre-season.

In a rare foray forward for the Essex side, Bertie Bowers struck a 30-yard effort just over Harry Wright's bar before Dobra lifted over from close range following a cut back from Morris.

However, the floodgates then opened and Grays left-back Callum Thompson put through his own net on 37 following a low ball into the six-yard box from Morris on the left.

Within two minutes Lankester beat the offside trap and ran onto Dobra's neat flick before finishing with ease, and Town added a sixth a matter of seconds later when Morris took the ball into the area from the left and finished well from a tight angle.

On 42 Folami and Morris combined well and despite Page keeping Folami's attempted chip out, the ball fell to Idris El Mizouni who slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

There was still time before the break for Folami to narrowly miss the target when he shot across goal with his left foot, and then Billy Jones had the ball in the net for the home side but was flagged offside.

Page did well to gather Lankester's goalbound header from a Folami cross four minutes after the restart, before Grays trialist Ozzy clipped the bar with a first-time shot following a low cross from the right.

At the other end and following a well-worked corner, Lankester hit an effort across goal which hit the base of the far post and was tapped in by Marshall, who was adjudged offside.

Shortly before the hour mark Brown was introduced and received a warm welcome from the Grays supporters, who then celebrated their team pulling a goal back on 62 when Ozzy fired under Wright after a good ball from Adeyinka Cole.

However, three minutes later normal service was resumed for Town as Folami again broke the attempted offside trap and pulled the ball back for Brown to score with one of his first touches.

Page made another good save soon after, this time to deny right-back Dylan Crowe who had pushed forward and hit a low shot towards the bottom corner, but he was beaten for the ninth and final time with 10 minutes remaining.

Sub Ryley Scott capitalised on a poor goalkick and played the ball out to Brown on the right, who laid it into the onrushing Scott and the former West Ham youngster bundled the ball into the net.

After an excellent start, Town's youngsters were ultimately in control for large periods of the game and although they did take a number of the chances they created, the final score could easily have been well into double figures.

Dobra once again stood out with his skill and bursting runs forward, while Morris took his chances well and also created a number of other openings too.

McLoughlin and El Mizouni dominated the midfield for most of the game and both were influential in pushing Town forward time after time.

Dagenham and Redbridge boss Peter Taylor, who has already had Blues defender Pat Webber briefly on trial with a view to a loan during pre-season, watched the game and spent time talking to academy head of coaching and player development Bryan Klug.

U23s: Wright, Crowe, Clements (Smith 58), McLoughlin, Cotter, Marshall, Lankester (K Brown 58), El Mizouni (Scott 73), Morris (McKendry 58), Dobra (Henry 73), Folami (Trialist 73). Unused: Ware. Att: 148.

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