Town's U18s recovered from their 1-0 defeat to Wolves at the weekend to overcome Woodbridge Town 1-0 in a pre-season friendly. Tony Boto scored the only goal in the 19th minute.
Town's new signing Jaime Peters was an interested spectator along with Dean McDonald, Darryl Knights, Chris Casement, Aidan Collins, Gerard Nash, Cathal Lordan, Billy Clarke and Teddy Sheringham, who had obviously come to watch his son, Charlie play for Town. Also in attendance was Andy Rhodes and his son Jordan, who scored a hat-trick for Town's U15 side in the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland earlier in the week.
Town fielded a number of trialists in an experimental team. Marcus Garnham, who is on trial from Woodbridge, played in goal, Steve Conway played at right-back, 14-year-old Scotsman Paul Watson played at left-back, Russell Short, previously with Cambridge United's academy, partnered Jack Haverson at the heart of the defence and Czech Petr Janacek played wide on the right.
Town made the better start to the game with some nice passing moves and the central midfield duo of Edward Upson and Ian Nimmo were getting stuck into their older and more experienced opponents.
Woodbridge then made their first real assault on the Town half and ended up with Dearsley hitting a shot over Garnham's bar.
On 13 the Blues almost took the lead. Good link-up play between Town's strike pair of Charlie Sheringham and Tony Boto set-up the West Ham star's son for a volleyed cross.h Boto got on the end of it but ex-Town youth goalie Scott Peat reacted well and foiled the young striker.
But six minutes later Peat could do nothing to stop Boto. A lovely through ball by Ian Nimmo allowed the striker to run on to the ball and chip the advancing keeper.
Town almost doubled their lead on 29 when Edward Upson surged forward and chipped Peat, but the ball re-bounded off the bar and although Sheringham nodded in the re-bound, he was deemed offside.
Two minutes later, Sheringham had another good opportunity. Petr Janacek's corner eluded the man on the near post for Woodbridge and the ball bounced up, hit Sheringham's legs and bobbled just wide.
On 36 Woodbridge's Joe Francis cut in from the right and unleashed a powerful drive just wide of the post.
Four minutes before the break good link-up play between Janacek and Boto allowed the Czech to put in a dangerous ball, but Crowfoot cleared before any Town player could latch onto it. The home side had another chance on 49, but failed to convert a good cross from Brett.
Town made their first substitution on 68 minutes when Liam Craig replaced Janacek, who had just been on the receiving end of a bad challenge.
Two minutes later, Sheringham played through Boto, but his cross was behind everyone and the ball was easily cleared to safety. Town then introduced Danny Haynes in place of Boto.
On 74 Nimmo played a lovely ball through to Haynes, who thought he was one-on-one with Peat, but across came Mark Bailey who timed his tackle just right.
More good work from Sheringham provided Haynes with another opportunity on 77, but this time he side-footed the ball and Peat made a fantastic save to tip the shot onto his post.
Two minutes later Micky Stockwell's Woodbridge side wasted their final opportunity when Ford headed wide after another good cross. On 82, Liam Trotter replaced Edward Upson who was again on the receiving end of a bad tackle from a Woodbridge midfielder.
Another good workout for the Town youngsters, with Nimmo, Sheringham and Fenn all standing out in a good, all-round team performance.
Woodbridge: 1 S Peat, 2 A Clouting, 3 J Scales, 4 T Trevivian, 5 M Bailey, 6 M Crowfoot, 7 A Brett, 8 S Dearsley, 9 S Lugo, 10 L Scopes and 11 J Francis. Subs: 12 D Ford, 14 A Churchyard and 15 J McDonald.
Town U18s: 1 Marcus Garnham, 2 Steve Conway, 3 Paul Watson, 4 Ian Nimmo (c), 5 Jack Haverson, 6 Russell Short, 7 Edward Upson (16 Liam Trotter 82), 8 Oliver Fenn, 9 Charlie Sheringham, 10 Tony Boto (13 Danny Haynes 70) and 11 Petr Janacek (12 Liam Craig 68). Unused: 14 James Krause and 15 Luke Webster. Ref: John Lodge. Att: 232.