Connor Wickham netted a hat-trick as Town's U18s beat Crystal Palace 4- 2 after extra-time in their FA Cup fourth round tie at Portman Road. Reggie Lambe added the final goal for the Blues, who now meet Watford in the fifth round.

The visitors started the game the stronger of the two sides and were close to going in front in the 27th minute when Hakeem Adelakun crashed a freekick against the stanchion from 30 yards. Earlier, a mazy Reggie Lambe run had ended with keeper Kieron Thorp saving his shot and Billy Clark lashing the rebound into the sidenetting.

Town went ahead in the 38th minute from a break after a Palace corner. Ronan Murray brought the ball in from the left and hit a shot which Connor Wickham flicked beyond the Palace keeper and into the net. The goal appeared to rock the Eagles and the Blues ended the half the stronger side.

Matt Daniels shot just over after the break, but gradually the visitors started to regain control, Kieran Djilili's brilliant run ending with him shooting wide on 64.

Palace were putting the Blues under pressure and got back on terms in the 75th minute when Michael Abnett was found in space wide on the right. His shot deflected off Blues defender Paul Watson, hit the crossbar and beat keeper Lewis Ward. A number of Town players complained that Luke Hyam had been fouled in the build-up and complained to referee Mr Harris.

The visitors very much looked favourites to win at this stage, but the Town youngsters came back into the game in the closing stages and could have won it four minutes from time when Lambe found Wickham on the right of the area and the 15-year-old striker hammered a shot against the inside of the post, the ball falling to an Eagles defender.

Players from both sides had already been treated for cramp as the game entered extra-time with the impetus swinging back to the visitors in the early stages.

However, in the final minute of the first half of extra-time, the Blues went back in front, Wickham powerfully heading in Lambe's freekick from the left.

The second half of extra-time saw Palace again put on the pressure and in the 111th minute a clever chip from the edge of the area found Tauren Roberts, who cut inside and beat Ward to equalise.

Within a minute, the Blues had restored their lead. Lambe found Murray, whose shot was saved but not held by keeper Thorp with Wickham reacting quickest to slam the rebound into the net for his hat-trick.

With three minutes left on the clock, Town finally sealed their victory. Wickham deftly controlled a long kick from Ward on the left and found sub Tom Eastman on the edge of the area. The midfielder's shot was blocked, the ball falling for Lambe, the Bermudian international winger curling a shot past Thorp and into the net. After a prolonged period of injury time the referee blew his whistle and Wickham claimed the match ball.

The Town youngsters ultimately deserved their victory over a talented Palace side, which included Nathanial Clyne who played in Saturday's first team game between the clubs, after a match which had swung one way and then the other.

Wickham's goalscoring performance obviously stood out, but there were impressive displays all over the field with Luke Hyam and Jack Ainsley doing well at the back, Ward handling capably for the most part, Murray dangerous until he ran out of steam in the latter stages and Lambe finding a second wind in extra-time.

The fifth round tie against Watford will be played at Portman Road next Monday with a 7pm kick-off. The winners of that tie will play either Cardiff or Birmingham away in the sixth round.

U18s: Ward, Hyam (Clemo 118), Dunbar, Daniels (Eastman 82), Watson, Ainsley, Clark (Griffiths 71), Cawley, Wickham, Murray, Lambe. Unused: Meekings, Brandon. Att: 413.

Photo: Action Images

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