Town's U18s started their pre-season campaign with a 13-0 thrashing of Sole Bay United, formerly Southwold Town, in the club's annual pre-season friendly in north Suffolk, this year at Reydon High School.

Striker Ronan Murray opened the scoring on nine minutes after he latched onto a ball over the top and calmly slotted past the keeper.

A minute later and Town's advantage was doubled by Jack Ainsley after Murray had a shot blocked following good work from full-back Josh Meekings on the right.

Town added a third after 12 minutes when Billy Clark's corner wasn't cleared and the ball was hooked back into the danger area for Luke Hyam to head home.

Murray scored his second and Town's fourth on 17 after another impressive Clark corner and the Irish frontman completed his hat-trick a minute later with another cool finish.

Ainsley scored his second with a header on 33 after a cross from Meekings on the right, before Murray scored his fourth four minutes later with a cheeky chip over the keeper.

Right on the stroke of half-time, David Cawley added an eighth after Ainsley's shot had been pushed out by the keeper and the Irish midfielder side-footed home.

Town added to their lead on the hour mark following a Sole Bay corner. Skipper Matt Daniels ran the length of the pitch and dinked his effort over the keeper, with a covering defender getting the last touch before the ball crossed the line.

Fifteen-year-old substitute Connor Wickham added another on 66 with a good finish after Murray had pulled the ball back.

Wickham then had a back-post volley ruled out for offside before another sub, Paul Murphy lobbed the keeper following Clark's through ball with twelve minutes remaining.

Three minutes later and left-back Seb Dunbar got his name on the scoresheet when he nipped in at the back post to slot the ball in after fine build-up play from Reggie Lambe.

Town's final goal came with two minutes to go after a great run from Hyam led to him pulling the ball back for Jamie Griffiths to score a deserved goal.

Town U18s: Stensrud, Meekings (Capocci 42), Dunbar, Daniels (Lambe 63), Hyam, Eastman, Griffiths, Cawley (Watson 71), Ainsley (Wickham 45), Murray (Murphy 71) and Clark.

Photo: Action Images

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