Zak Brown scored a brace and set up two more as Ipswich Town's U18s marched into the FA Youth Cup second round with a resounding 6-1 win over King’s Lynn.

The young Tractor Boys, under the lights at Portman Road, took an early lead through full-back Connor O’Reilly before Tyreece Simpson doubled the lead to put Town on easy street at half-time.

After the break Brown struck twice while also creating goals for Colin Oppong and substitute Allan Viral as King’s Lynn grabbed a consolation through striker Joseph Taylor.

Ipswich were quick out of the blocks and could have been 4-0 up before O’Reilly opened the scoring in the 13th minute.

A beautiful long ball was controlled immaculately by wide man Brown, who ran at the defence before playing a perfect inside ball to the underlapping O’Reilly who poked it under the keeper.

The away side were struggling to cope with the skill and pace of the Tractor Boys, and it was only a matter of time before they doubled the lead.

In the 21st minute forward Liam Gibbs got clear on the right and his perfectly weighted cross was headed home by Simpson, who recently made his first team debut in the leasing.com trophy against Tottenham U21s.

Simpson’s pace was a constant threat and he almost grabbed his second right on half-time in comical fashion.

Gibbs got in behind again and saw his effort saved by the on-rushing keeper only to fall to Oppong, but his shot was cleared off the line before Simpson had a go and saw his goal-bound shot blocked as the half-time whistle went.

Early in the second half Brown added a third as he found space to run towards goal and emphatically fired his shot into the roof of the net.

Minutes later Brown was in the action again as he turned provider with a beautifully planted cross to the back post for the unmarked Oppong to get himself on the scoresheet.

The tie was over as a contest before the hour mark, but the away side kept going and almost grabbed a goal back as Taylor played through midfielder Luke Johnson only to see Town keeper Jake Alley make a brilliant stop with his legs.

With just 15 minutes to go Brown added his second with a delicious chip off the post after seeing his initial shot saved.

There was a noisy travelling support and they were soon to get their reward as the ball fell to the unmarked Taylor, who had all the time in the world to give Kings Lynn something from a tough evening.

As the game entered the last five minutes Ipswich were awarded a penalty for an elbow on Viral, but Brown failed to claim his hat-trick as the keeper blocked his poor spot-kick with his legs.

Brown still had time to put that behind him, putting a wicked ball in that reached Viral at the back post, who curled a beauty into the top corner to round off the comprehensive victory.

Town march on to the next round where they will remain on home soil as they entertain Exeter City with the date of the match yet to be scheduled.

U18s: Alley, O’Reilly (Ruffles 63), Smith, Alexander, Stewart, Henderson (C), Brown, Healy (Baker 73), Oppong, Gibbs, Simpson (Viral 72) unused: Bort, Cutbush, Reed, Bareck.

Photo: TWTD

dirtydingusmagee added 08:53 - Nov 7 Well done lads, good luck next round .
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Upthetown1970 added 11:23 - Nov 7 Well done great display from the u18's last night. Brown, Gibbs and Smith looked very good. Gibbs was my top performer of the evening. Maybe he should have got a couple of goals himself but his movement and passing was exceptional. Gibbs did get himself 2 assists. Brown ran and ran and got his reward with 2 goals and 2 assists. Simpson for me is behind those 2 on last nights performance so I'm guessing it is just their size why they are not in and around the first team yet like Simpson.

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DifferentGravy added 14:30 - Nov 7 Brilliant! Well done to all. Lets see as many of you as possible keeping on the straight n narrow and pushing for a squad place in the next season or two.
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