Goals from Richard Naylor and Ian Westlake took the Blues to a thoroughly deserved 2-1 home victory over Sheffield Wednesday. Town were irresistible in a first half during which Naylor headed the opener, Westlake adding a second after the break before Lee Peacock's late consolation.
With Nicky Forster out due to a cartilage operation and Sam Parkin having cut his face in an accidental training ground clash with a Dutch trialist's boot, boss Joe Royle named a new strike-force comprising of Dean Bowditch and debutant Dean McDonald.
Shane Supple made his first senior start in goal, Sito his home debut at right-back, while at the other end of the spectrum, skipper Jim Magilton was making his 550th league appearance.
Royle recalled Owen Garvan to the centre of the midfield, with Kevin Horlock a sub. For Wednesday, former Blue Drissa Diallo was on the bench.
Town went ahead with the first serious opportunity of the game. Currie sent in a corner from the left which was half-cleared out to Jim Magilton on the right. The Northern Irishman deftly played the ball to the far post from where Richard Naylor headed it back across the keeper and into the net.
After a Chris Brunt freekick curled just wide of Shane Supple's right-hand post, the Blues took control, the goal seeming to infuse the young Town side with confidence.
On 16 Sito played a superb ball into Dean McDonald in the centre of the pitch, the former Arsenal youngster taking the ball on past a couple of defenders but mis-hitting his shot wide.
A minute later, Richard Wood became the first player to get his name into referee Grant Hegley's notebook for a foul on McDonald, the latest in a series of fouls on a number of the Town youngsters, the visitors perhaps looking to put the frighteners on them.
The Owls might have got back on terms in the 21st minute when a swift break saw Chris Eagles, on loan from Manchester United, cross low for Burton O'Brien who scuffed the ball wide when in a very promising position.
Wilnis went wide from a loose ball after a corner, then Currie shot low to keeper David Lucas as the Blues had much the better of the first half, passing the Wednesday midfield to pieces.
Just before the half hour mark, Bowditch broke quickly on the right and found Westlake just outside the area. The midfielder slipped but found McDonald to his left, a defender getting in the way of the debutant's strike.
McDonald and Bowditch up front - the Dean Machine - proved a constant thorn in the Wednesday defence's side with their pace and movement. McDonald's close control and skills saw the Owls backline resort to sending the debutant to ground.
O'Brien's shot was deflected over before a fine Town move involving most of the outfield players ended with Garvan shooting over. On 43 a lengthy spell of Town possession finished with Currie weaving himself space 25 yards out and curling a shot just wide of Lucas's goal.
In injury time John Hills was booked for a high, late and two-footed tackle on Dean McDonald.
The Blues were applauded off at half-time, Churchman's in particular giving the young team a rapturous reception as they left the field. Town had passed the ball sublimely at times and had rarely looked in any danger at the back, with Supple largely a spectator in his senior Portman Road bow.
McDonald, one of the stars of the first half display, was quickly in action in the second period, sending a low ball across the box after beating a couple of defenders but no Town player was in position to apply the final touch.
Soon after, the other Dean was the centre of attention, charging down a Lucas clearance, referee Hegley awarding a rather unnecessary freekick to the Wednesday keeper.
The Dean Machine's busy start to the second half had the North Stand singing that there are "only two Deanos". On 57, Lucas saved McDonald's low shot. A minute later, Supple caught a cross from the Wednesday left, his first serious action of the game.
On 59, Drissa Diallo came on to make his Wednesday debut to polite applause from the Town support. The Guinean went close to a goal within seconds of being introduced, heading a freekick powerfully, but straight at Supple.
Garvan appeared to be body-checked inside the Wednesday area on 62, although a freekick would have been a more likely award than a penalty, before Fabian Wilnis was penalised for an outrageous dive by Owls sub Adam Proudlock, the former Wolves man throwing himself to the floor with the Dutchman nowhere near him.
The Town crowd booed Proudlock's every subsequent touch of the ball and took particular pleasure in his header over the bar in the 64th minute when it appeared easier to nod the ball into the net.
McDonald turned and shot wide from the edge of the area a minute later, but the Owls were enjoying their best period of the game, Brunt coming close when played through but screwing his shot across the face of goal and wide.
Kevin Horlock replaced Jim Magilton in the 68th minute and the substitute was involved in Town's second goal five minutes later. Horlock and Currie eked out space on the right for Sito, the Spaniard finding Westlake on the edge of the area with a low ball that the midfielder lashed into the net off the underside of the cross bar for his first goal of the season.
Supple saved a Graham Coughlan close-range header from a corner, before McDonald claimed a penalty when the same player bundled him over in the area but referee Hegley was unimpressed.
Jaime Peters took over from Darren Currie on the right of midfield in the 77th minute and was soon causing the Wednesday defence problems, referee Hegley playing a good advantage as the Canadian cut in from the right and sent in a low ball which Diallo did well to put out for a corner.
Wednesday pulled a goal back in the 81st minute, Lee Peacock's header from Glenn Whelan's corner giving Supple no chance.
McDonald almost played in Bowditch in the 84th minute but the England U19 international was caught offside, not for the first time during the game.
Jimmy Juan replaced Owen Garvan with five minutes remaining, before a tired-looking Bowditch hit a 30-yard effort which gave Lucas few problems.
In injury time a Diallo backpass let in McDonald, the striker getting to the ball ahead of the grounded Lucas but not in a position where he could get in a shot.
A terrific performance from a makeshift Town side and a far more composed display than in any of the previous matches this season. Wednesday were rarely in the game, aside from a spell just after the hour and as they pressed for an equaliser at the end, and it probably should have been a more comfortable victory.
Bowditch and McDonald caused constant problems, with the crowd warming to McDonald's pace and skills, although his tendency to overplay was frustrating on a number of occasions. But overall a debut to be proud of and many will be looking forward to seeing him take on the Yeovil defence on Tuesday.
Supple had a confident but generally quiet afternoon, while Wilnis and Naylor continued their good form at the centre of the defence. Sito was probably Town's man of the match with Matt Richards once again impressive on the left.
Overall, an inspiring and encouraging display from a very young Town side, who did everything that can have been asked of them.
Town: Supple, Sito, Richards, Wilnis, Naylor, Magilton (Horlock 68), Garvan (Juan 85), Westlake, Currie (Peters 77), McDonald, Bowditch. Unused: Barron, Collins. Att: 24,238.