Dean Bowditch netted a hat-trick as Town's reserves beat Southend United 5-4 in an extraordinary game at Portman Road on Monday evening. Sylvain Legwinski and Jordan Rhodes scored the other two Blues goals.

Legwinski opened the scoring in the fifth minute, diverting a Matt Richards corner into the net.

On 18 Bowditch netted his first of the night, beating the offside trap, rounding the keeper and slipping the ball into the net.

Southend pulled themselves back into the game with a goal in the 25th minute, then just before half-time equalised.

Jordan Rhodes replaced Billy Clarke at the break as the match continued to be very open with both defences looking less than secure. Curtley Williams replaced Sylvain Legwinski on 57, the Frenchman having got another game under his belt as he continues his recovery from his broken metatarsal.

The Shrimpers took the lead six minutes after the hour mark, prior to Jai Reason taking over from Matt Richards in the Town midfield.

Bowditch put the Blues back on terms with a well-struck shot on 71 and completed his hat-trick 11 minutes later after good work from the impressive Liam Trotter.

Sub Rhodes again showed his finishing ability in the 83rd minute when he scored Town's fifth from a Bowditch pass. Southend completed the scoring in injury time to make it 5-4.

An entertaining game for the 415-strong crowd with Bowditch taking his goals well, although still appearing a little short of match fitness. Nevertheless, his goals are likely to have impressed any watching scouts with Brighton known to want to take him on loan again and Millwall also rumoured to be interested.

Liam Trotter was probably Town's outstanding performer, while at the back the Tommy Smith-Michael Synnott central partnership rarely inspired confidence.

Legwinski came through his 57 minutes on the field without a problem, while Curtley Williams put in a fine cameo display after replacing the Frenchman.

Town: Plummer, Sito, Robinson, Legwinski (C Williams 57), Synnott, Smith, Peters, Trotter, Clarke (Rhodes 46), Bowditch, Richards (Reason 70). Unused subs: Ward, Fenn. Att:415.

Report by Alasdair Ross.

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