Town's U18 side recorded a morale-boosting 4-3 victory over Portsmouth ahead of Wednesday night's FA Youth Cup tie with Watford. Jordan Rhodes netted twice and Curtley Williams and Jack Ainsley once.

The visitors had two goals disallowed before Williams sent a looping header over Pompey keeper Nick Jordan on the stroke of half-time.

Striker Jordan Rhodes, who was left out of the first team squad for the match against Stoke, then scored twice before Pompey pulled a goal back.

Jack Ainsley added a fourth before the visitors almost staged a remarkable comeback as they added two goals late on to make the final score 4-3 to Town.

If Town win their fourth round tie with Watford on Wednesday, the young Blues will face Colchester United or Aston Villa away in round five.

Town have 1,000 free tickets on offer for that game via the sponsorship of Ipswich Town Ist, the Supporters Trust, and Reader Offers (ROL Cruise).

Ipswich U18s: Plummer, Clemo, Robinson, C Williams (c) (Daniels), Watson, Smith, Upson (Dunbar), Reason, Murphy, Rhodes and Lambe (Ainsley). Unused: Calver and Hyam.

Meanwhile, Town's U16 side followed up their previous defeat against Fulham with a disappointing 4-1 defeat at home to Portsmouth.

The Blues included a number of trialists in their line-up with Irishman Derek Williams starting at left-back and Aaron Burns playing on the left side of midfield. Karl McHugh started in central midfield and Welshman Ollie Ardlino made an appearance from the bench.

Pompey went in 1-0 up at half-time and added three more goals during the second half before Town striker Ronan Murray headed in from trialist's Burns's cross on the final whistle.

Ipswich U16s: Ward, Roe, Williams, Eastman, Whittaker (c), McHugh, Brown, Cawley, Pavett, Murray and Burns. Subs (all used): Wickham, Traveller, Clark, Griffiths and Ardlino.

Photo: Action Images

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