Ronan Murray and David Cawley netted the goals as a young Town second string side won 2-0 at Leiston. However, the evening was less than a success with Luciano Civelli and Alan Quinn substituted with injuries inside the first six minutes.

Quinn was first to succumb, pulling a groin muscle as he took a freekick only a minute into the game. Civelli wasn’t far behind him, jarring his knee in a solid challenge.

The Argentinian was substituted as a precaution, immediately icing the knee which suffered the multi-ligament injury which kept him out of action for 16 months. The left midfielder’s condition will be assessed tomorrow.

Town appeared to be unsettled by the early injuries - first-year pros David Cawley and Jamie Griffiths taking over in the Blues midfield - and Leiston went close to going in front when Danny Cunningham was sent through on goal only for Arran Lee-Barrett to pull off a fine save. Soon after, Mark Goldfinch’s shot deflected past the post.

Largely though, it was a game of few chances played on a pitch with a very fast top after heavy afternoon rain.

The Blues finally went in front in the 36th minute when Lee Martin’s cross from the left deflected into Ronan Murray’s path and the Republic of Ireland U19 international flicked the ball over keeper Jamie Stannard from close range.

Just before the break, Hourihane saw a freekick from 35 yards deflect and strike the post.

The second period was similarly short on goalscoring opportunities, Pablo Couñago failed to seriously test Stannard with an early strike, while Jack Ainsley also hit an effort.

Billy Clark replaced new signing Conor Hourihane in the 59th minute, the Irish youngster having put in a tidy if generally unspectacular display in the holding midfield role.

Three minutes later, the quiet Couñago was replaced by Brazilian trialist Marcus Picciarelli. The 20-year-old striker is currently with Rio de Janeiro side Macaé. Picciarelli, who began his trial with the Blues earlier in the week, showed some deft Pablo-esque touches in his time on the field, but found it hard to impose himself on the game.

The match almost boiled over in the 65th minute when Michael Brothers stood on the grounded Jamie Griffiths, Seb Dunbar reacting angrily and the referee having to calm things down.

Soon after, Leiston almost got back on terms when the ball scraped narrowly wide after a goalmouth scramble, then as the game moved into the final 10 minutes Danny Smy headed a left-wing cross against Tom Eastman, the home contingent calling for what would have been a very harsh penalty.

The Blues sealed the win in the 81st minute when Ronan Murray rode a couple of tackles on the edge of the area, then fed Jamie Griffiths to his left, the winger sending in a low ball which David Cawley bundled home.

Town deserved the win, although Leiston will be pleased with the way they matched the young Blues for large parts of the game. Boss Roy Keane watched the match from amongst the crowd, leaving reserves manager Chris Kiwomya to take control of the team.

Town XI: Lee-Barrett, Ainsley, Dunbar, Hourihane, Brown, Eastman, Martin, Quinn (Cawley 1), Couñago (Picciarelli 63), Murray, Civelli (Griffiths 6). Unused: McLoughlin, Lambe, McKeown. Att: 668.

Photo: Action Images

ramseyn added 23:12 - Jul 27 Here we go again.....
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the_gospel added 23:13 - Jul 27 'kin el
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kerryblue added 23:15 - Jul 27 Four players out of what would be my starting eleven now and one squad player and the rest of the squad leaving and still nothing decent coming in.SORT IT MARCUS WE NEED A GOOD SQUAD AND A FLYING START.
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brendanh added 23:15 - Jul 27 Civelli's career is over.
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ramseyn added 23:19 - Jul 27 Noticed keane watched the match from the crowd. I'm sure I noticed him booing.
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PimsNumber1 added 23:24 - Jul 27 WELL THAT MEANS WE ARE STUCK WITH QUINNER and that would not have done civelli`s knee a load of good ! That was a worthwhile game then !
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Brad_C_ITFC added 23:34 - Jul 27 DOOMED
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slowerball added 23:40 - Jul 27 These games can bite you on the backside... injuries upon injuries - let's hope they are precautions. We don't need this. Another game / team tomorrow - let's hope its a good performance, a decent win and we are injury free. I agree with other comments - we will need to bring players in - if only to cover injuries. Transfer action required - both in and out...
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BBtown added 23:41 - Jul 27 hahaa this is SUCHHH our luck!
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slowerball added 23:50 - Jul 27 With Luca, this could be another Ulrich Le Pen situation...
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StowTractorBoy added 23:57 - Jul 27 I hate to say it but I always feared that Civelli will never be the same again. He had an horrific injury and has done well to come this far but I don't think he will be the same again. A great shame because he could have given us the width we needed on the left. As for Quinn I don't think he will go anywhere anyway as it strikes me he is happy to take his large salary and see out his contract. Surely we must get some good news soon. The best 11 we can put out now looks very very weak to me so come on ITFC lets see some signings and quick.

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ChambersM added 00:20 - Jul 28 Excellent
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suffolksam added 00:48 - Jul 28 now we are looking good for the playoffs put as much as you can on us
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MPN added 00:52 - Jul 28 This is just typical, never ideal but a squad should be able to cope with this, which we simply don't have. OK Quinn is average and Civelli is frankly still unproven after only a handful of games, but with Norris and Wickham as well, may force Keanes hand into pursuing more targets. Ironic however that after our GK crisis last year we have no problems there, and a new GK on the way just to make sure. Pfft

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robdaful added 00:55 - Jul 28 well the best thing i can say is i can use twtd on my phone now :) but i can't believe this i thought we had our bad luck over and done with when wickham and norris got injured but i guess i was wrong. Keane you have to really get the transfers rolling now. we must really have the luck of the irish!!!!!
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PavlovsCat added 00:58 - Jul 28 Pomme de terre.
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jesus added 03:30 - Jul 28 They're all faking it to get Marcus to dole out the spondoolies for new players..
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suffolksam added 05:21 - Jul 28 23rd.....................!
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bedsitfc added 07:17 - Jul 28 civelli was taken off as a precaution so it may not be that bad, and quinn would never start for us against boro unless 3 more mids got injured. norris will be back for hammers on saturday. town fans glass is always half empty.
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mickeyjb added 07:56 - Jul 28 Beyond belief. How many "solid challenges" is Civelli going to face in our league week in week out. I'm afraid I think we won't see much of Cavelli and definatly wont see the best of him. The belief I have in a successful season is deminishing day by day, no new players in, players going out, players injured. Oh but we may be OK for goal keepers. FFS
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slowerball added 08:00 - Jul 28 It depends if you are filling the glass or emptying it...
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John_Warks_Tash added 08:31 - Jul 28 I went last night and was really quite impressed with Leiston and thought they matched Ipswich in most departments. If you made the Ipswich players wear another shirt, you'd never of been able to figure out who were the supposed professional full-time team. Lee Martin looked comfortable at Leiston's level (no offence to Leiston) and never shined above the rest of the players on the pitch considering he's supposedly a £2million worth player. I was standing literally 4 feet away from Keane in the 2nd half, who didn't cut a very happy looking man at all, begrudgingly having pictures taken with fans etc.

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bluepeter added 09:00 - Jul 28 brendanh, I posted that comment on here just after his injury. Sadly I agree with you.
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FenboyBlue added 09:00 - Jul 28 Crucial detail, did Civelli have his thumbs up, when leaving the pitch ?
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naaridge1coly7 added 09:12 - Jul 28 what a complete shambles,not helped by the clear lack of signings and players not wanting to come here,i know on keep on about it but look at other clubs ie palace & scum who dont seem to have any problems signing players,i rest my case......
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