Town's U21 side were thrashed 5-0 by a rampant Cardiff City side at Portman Road on Monday evening. After a fairly even opening period the visitors ran riot and scored four goals in the second half against an inexperienced Town team.

New keeper Jonathan Henly started in goal but Cameron Stewart and Alex Henshall were the only two players involved with first-team experience.

Mark Kennedy's side started well and Stewart crashed a freekick off the bar after 10 minutes, before Henshall curled an effort just wide of Luke O'Reilly's near post.

Macauley Southam flashed a header just over Henly's bar midway through the half, while at the other Stewart cut in from the left and hit a fierce drive which cannoned off the foot of O'Reilly's post.

Despite Town creating the better chances, the Welsh side opened the scoring three minutes before the break. Henly had done well parry Tyler Roche's effort but the ball fell kindly for Southam, who fired home from close range.

The visitors came close to doubling their lead moments later when Tommy O'Sullivan hit a goalbound effort which deflected off Kyle Hammond and landed just wide of the woodwork.

However, within 30 seconds of the restart Southam scored his and Cardiff's second. A low ball into the Town area from the left was miscued by Rhys Healey but the onrushing Southam took full advantage fire home at the back post.

The young Blues had a great opportunity to reduce the arrears within a minute but Shane McLoughlin somehow lifted the ball over the bar from inside the six-yard box after Dylan Connolly's knock down.

O'Sullivan blasted wide after Henly had produced a fine save to keep out Healey's volley but Town's stopper could do nothing to prevent the Bluebirds netting a third goal on 56.

The impressive Southam capitalised on some poor defending and despite pressure from George Fowler as he was bearing down on goal, the ball rolled past Henly and O'Sullivan was left with a simple finish from close range.

Healey headed an unchallenged fourth on 73 following a good cross from Roche on the right, before Town were reduced to 10 men. All three subs had already been used when centre-back Joe Robinson was withdrawn following a clash of heads.

Cardiff added their fifth with two minutes of normal time remaining when James Blanchfield was adjudged to have fouled Healey in the area. Referee Martyn Holmes pointed to the spot and Healey stepped up to send Henly the wrong way from the spot.

Henshall failed to make much of an impression throughout, although Stewart showed glimpses of quality in the first half.

Town's inexperience at this level, particularly following the substitutions in the second half, was exposed by a fluent and impressive Cardiff side that took full advantage of the chances they created.

U21s: Henly, Hammond, Bombalenga (Woolfenden 61), Blanchfield, Fowler, Robinson, Connolly, McLoughlin, Ford (Maynard 61), Stewart, Henshall (Ramadan 74). Unused: Wright, Morris.

Cardiff: O'Reilly, Barnum-Bobb, Abbruzzese, Patten, Watkins, Baker, Southam, Weymans (Burridge 72), Healey, O'Sullivan (Veale 86), Roche (Noor 81). Unused: Blaise, Wakeman. Att: 182.

Photo: Action Images

StowTractorBoy added 22:30 - Aug 24 I have said all along that Henshall will never make it at ITFC and tonight is a case in point. Think MM may move him out and possibly Stewart as well although I am sure he can do it. As with Marriott both have had time to make an impression and it is just not happening.
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Wallingford_Boy added 22:36 - Aug 24 New keeper sounds good..
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harlingblue added 23:29 - Aug 24 Difficult to read much into this result as the team was a real patch up of players, several nowhere near the required standard at this level at the moment. The fact that so many players that would have played in this fixture will be in the first team squad for the Capitol Cup game at Doncaster meant a result in this game was very unlikely. I just hope that the missing players step up to the plate tomorrow and are supplemented with a some hardened first team squad players and a VERY STRONG bench...as we need to stay in these competitive Cup competitions to keep both squad and supporters happy.

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BrettenhamBlue added 00:48 - Aug 25 Why on earth didn't the new Wonder-Kid Mcdonell play? Is he injured or is the intention to have him in the first team? Didn't see the game this time so got a second-hand report from a friend who did. Bad debut for Henly in particular. Stewart played ok but was simply over-powered by weight of numbers at times. Henshall- not good. Cardiff were impressive. Well done to them.

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linhdi added 01:12 - Aug 25 We did well first half up to the 43rd minute, arguably on top and quite comfortable. We were undone by the two goals - sloppily conceded, either side of the break. Our youngsters' heads dropped. Some (not fair to name them) really seemed to lose confidence, others clearly not yet ready for this level. Many regular U21ers will be at Donny tomorrow, a good test for them too. Stewart did well when he had the ball and could show how good he is, but he didn't contribute a lot otherwise. Henshall was disappointingly lightweight. Don't judge the youngster by the result - they'll have learned a lot from this game.

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muccletonjoe added 05:23 - Aug 25 Hensall and Stewart will never get in our first team now and probably need moving on. With injuries and cup game, this team really was very short on experience
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bkitfc added 07:12 - Aug 25 A bit disappointing but there weren't many regular under-21s in that game because most of them are playing against Doncaster
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topguy added 13:12 - Aug 25 McDonnell along with alsbi is in the squad for tonight that's why they were not playing tonight.
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