Town’s U23s extended their lead at the top of the Professional Development League Two South table to four points after defeating bottom side Colchester United 4-1 at Playford Road this afternoon, U’s defender Tyrique Hyde netting an own goal before Kai Brown (pictured) , Bailey Clements and Tommy Hughes (pen) got their names on the scoresheet.

Hyde diverted diverted a low ball from Armando Dobra - who spent last week with the Albanian U19s squad - past his own keeper in the seventh minute to give the young Blues the lead. However, the Essex side levelled on 22 via Devonte Aransibia.

But Town’s advantage was restored six minutes after the break when Brown followed up after Dobra’s initial effort had been saved.

Former Grays Athletic man Brown turned provider in the 64th minute, his cross from the right finding left-back Clements who made it 3-1.

The goalscoring was completed by sub Hughes in the 78th minute after the academy scholar was brought down by U’s keeper Ted Collins and found the net from the spot.

The win moves the Blues four points ahead of second-placed Crystal Palace, who aren’t in action this week, both teams having played 22 games.

U23s: Wright, Emmanuel, Cotter, Ndaba (c), Nsiala, Clements (Webber 82), McGavin, Dozzell, Dobra (Hughes 76), El Mizouni (Foudil 76), K Brown. Unused: Egan, Z Brown.

Photo: TWTD

ArnieM added 15:42 - Feb 25 Well played Blues Young Guns...... onwards and upwards
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ITFCsince73 added 19:12 - Feb 25 Dozzell starts again, and by all accounts just like all his performances has a great game. Not sure what he has to do to get a 1st team start?? But I do.....he needs to leave town. He would start every game for any other Championship side, and rightly so.
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Kirbmeister added 19:30 - Feb 25 ITFCsince1973 Dozzell isn't strong enough yet. So he would be starting for Leeds, Norwich, Sheffield U or WBA?? I don't think so.
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DavidDymondSuperfan added 19:36 - Feb 25 Dozzell would not be starting for any other Championship team, have a day off...
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ITFCsince73 added 20:12 - Feb 25 David superfan..Kirbmeister. LoL. Let's look at the stats. Played and captained Eng u17. 15/16 season. Reached euro u17 Q final 16/17 season. Helped win euro u19 final season 17/18. Starts and plays every u23 game ITFC. Gauranteed a place on the 1st team bench when fit. One of the most creative players in the 1st team squad All the above and still not getting a 1st team start. Maybe we're waiting until he's 25 yrs old before we'll deem him ready. LoL. We are bottom of the league, not fighting promotion. Expect him to be gone this summer. Even mad Mick expected him to be a starter last season before injury. David superfan, your on a permanent day off.

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ITFCsince73 added 21:16 - Feb 25 I would like to think any Town player on the 1st team bench is capable of a sustained run in the starting 11. Otherwise why would they justify a place on the bench? Those saying he's not strong enough yet...does that mean he won't be strong enough in 5 months for the start of the new season? If he's not up for it now, he certainly ain't going to be in 5 months time, in the rough and tumble of league 1. He's already had 20 1st team appearances, so hardly green behind the ears. If he doesn't have a run in the 1st team how the hell will we know if he's ready. Every time I've seen him on the pitch, he looks nothing but exciting. Yes a bit lightweight looking, but a perfect build to go on to be that tricky player we know he can be. He won the euros with England, up against the very best Europe has to offer. He's not just a player who's come through the academy, he's been amongst the very best this country has had to offer right up to 20 yrs old. Unless we are going to step him up to be a regular starter, then no one will know if he's ready. If he's not ready now, then won't be in August. Against ugly 6ft 5 L1 centre backs. But the way his career has stalled at Town, he will be playing elsewhere come August, and I wouldn't blame him. A quality footballer, unfortunately another team will see the best of.

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itfchorry added 21:31 - Feb 25 We want Dozzell
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algarvefan added 22:09 - Feb 25 Yet again the U23's give us reason to be hopeful, all but the mathematicians know we are going down so why not play the players likely to start next season with just a few seasoned pro's, I mean we are bottom, how much worse can it get. We need to hit the ground running next season, so lets play OUR players and bin the loan players.
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ITFCsince73 added 23:43 - Feb 25 From this week onwards, we should be building the whole club around the likes of Bish, Morris, Lancs, The Woolf, Kenlock, Josh etc etc. With Dozzell at the very top of that pile. With some very tidy players currently in the u18,s pushing on to the 1st team over the next 12 months or so. The above names are good enough to play in the starting 11 now, not waiting 6,12, or 18 months. All have been at the club years and all they know is ITFC. They are all blue, if only given the chance. Of course this is only my opinion.

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harlingblue added 02:53 - Feb 26 Not our best performance today, but a great result, much needed after a couple of defeats. With so many of our young attacking players out injured Morris, Folami, Lankester (the latter a 1st team squad member now), it was good to see that we had enough firepower to score 4 goals. Well done to the U23 management team, you are giving us a wonderful season, working with whatever players at your disposal.

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Linkboy13 added 07:05 - Feb 26 Got to agree with most people on here on Andre Dozzell he's physically not ready for first team football i go to most U 23 games he's neat and tidy but he should be dominating these games if he's name wasn't Dozzell he wouldn't get so much attention having said that he's got potential but we need to start seeing it.
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Kirbmeister added 07:52 - Feb 26 Linkboy23 - totally agree. I appreciate he's had a bad injury but, apart from score on his debut, he hasn't done anything in the first team yet. Hopefully his day will come.
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bobble added 08:14 - Feb 26 in the midst of death, there is life.............
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ITFCsince73 added 14:09 - Feb 26 Link boy. I think it's fair to say if he was ripping it up for the 23,s. All we would hear is, yes but its different to the championship, etc. Are you serious about his surname?? Apart from winning the old div 2 his old man achieved nothing in the game. Is only widely known at ITFC. And any Spurs supporter under 30 would struggle to even know he played for them. No Andre has done nothing for the 1st team, simply because he's never been given a run of games. Certainly if your views on Andre are the same as Hogg and co. He will be gone sooner rather than later. He's done fantastic with England through all the age groups, but I suppose that's only because of his surname? Just like Marriot if he thinks his career has stalled at town, he will go off in search of bigger and better things. And they'll be no shortage of takers.

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