Town's U19 team produced a fine performance to beat AFC Sudbury 3-0 in a warm-up match for the Ridgeons League champions' FA Vase Final against Winchester City on next Sunday.
The Blues included first-team hopefuls Scott Mitchell and Scott Barron, but were without England U16 international Darryl Knights, who was out with a calf injury. In the Sudbury line-up was former Town midfielder Lee Norfolk who made handful of senior Blues appearances in the mid-nineties.
Kieran Leabon, 15, opened the scoring for Town just before half-time. He beat the last defender, kept a cool head and slotted the ball past Sudbury goalkeeper Dean Greygoose.
At half-time, Town made mass changes, bringing on Alfie Kamara, Adem Atay, Tony Boto and Fraser Beveridge for Cathal Lordan, Owen Garvan, Scott Barron and Kieran Leabon.
The Blues started the second-half in high spirits, and from an Adem Atay corner Alfie Kamara dived in to head home. Had Kamara had missed it, Jerome Sobers was just behind and would have had a simple finish.
Town then brought on ex-Chelsea youngster Sammy Moore for Daniel Flack. Flack wasn't off the field long though, about 10 minutes later, he came back on to replace Michael Synnott. The only other substitution for Town involved Kieran Leabon, who replaced captain Scott Mitchell.
The Blues then moved up a gear and increased their lead to 3-0 when Daniel Flack had a shot from 25 yards out. The ball went straight through the substitute Sudbury goalkeeper.
Then, with 15 minutes to go, Sam Banya had a great chance to pull one back for Sudbury, but pulled the ball wide from the penalty spot. A few minutes later, Steve Day was put through but his shot thundered against Scott Peat's post.
Town had the ball in the back of the net again late on, but Adem Atay was caught offside before he crossed for Tony Boto to finish.
Town: Scott Peat, Scott Mitchell, Stuart Ainsley, Michael Synnott, Jerome Sobers, Ben Patten, Cathal Lordan, Owen Garvan, Scott Barron, Daniel Flack and Kieran Leabon. Subs: Alfie Kamara, Adem Atay, Tony Boto, Fraser Beveridge and Sammy Moore.
Sudbury: Dean Greygoose, Terry Rayner, Shane Wardley, Brett Girling, Chris Tracey, Lee Norfolk, Simon Hyde, Gary Bennett, Andrew Claydon, Paul Betson and Chris Howlett. Subs: John Bishop, Neil Calver, Steve Day, Sam Banya and Dean Francis.
Many thanks to Tractor Boy for his report.