Town's U17s beat Liverpool's youngsters 3-2 in a friendly at the training ground yesterday with goals from Craig Reid, Scott Barron and Liam Craig.

Liverpool scored straight from the kick-off when Ralph Welch scored past keeper Floyd Croll with a well-timed header into the top corner of the net.

Ipswich came more into the game and Scott Barron won a penalty after being hauled down in the box.

Craig Reid stepped up to convert the kick,
sending the goalie, Jukka Lehtovaara, the wrong way.

Ipswich then took the lead when Scott Barron was put through by Steven Gale and he finished well. Just before the end of the half though, Callum Woods equalised for Liverpool. It stayed this way until half-time.

In the second half, Liverpool made three changes and Ipswich made none. Liam Manning was fortunate about ten minutes in when he tried to pass the ball back to Floyd Croll in the Town goal, but thankfully Croll made a fantastic save to keep the scores level.

Ipswich again took the lead when Scottish youngster Liam Craig latched onto a pass from Craig Reid, beat a defender and shot past the substitute goalie Paul Lancaster.

Liverpool then hit the woodwork when Jay Spearing cut in from the right and smashed the ball onto the bar, Floyd Croll having no chance, and Ipswich somehow got it out.

Near the end of the game, Irish recruit Cathal
Lorden was put through, only to scuff his shot wide of the post.

Alex Bolt, although only about 5'3" and about 14 years old, produced some magic in the final minute and twisted his marker inside out, and could have been badly injured after a rash challenge, but he stayed on but after the
game came out with an ice pack on his foot.

U17s: Floyd Croll, Steven Gale, Stuart Ainsley, Cathal Lorden, Liam Manning, James Krause, Daniel Flack, Darryl Knights, Liam Craig, Craig Reid and Scott Barron. Subs: Fraser Beveridge, Alex Bolt, Kieran Leabon, Joji Kawaguchi and Scott Peat.

Thanks to Tractor Boy for the report.

Photo: Action Images

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