Jaime Peters scored his first goal since committing to the Blues and Dean McDonald netted a hat-trick as the reserves defeated Cambridge 6-1 in a friendly at a windy Playford Road. Peters, unable to play competitive games until his 18th birthday, was making his first appearance since joining Town.

The duo, both remarkably like former Blue David Johnson in style, formed a diminutive but effective partnership on a comfortable afternoon for Steve McCall's men.

Town had arranged the match to give senior players like Jimmy Juan match practice, a number of league games having been postponed in recent weeks. Central defender Drissa Diallo was not considered fit enough to be involved.

McDonald opened the scoring in the fifth minute, receiving Daniel Flack's pass from the right, turning a defender and rifling home.

The Blues went two in front on 17 when skipper Scott Mitchell sent Peters away down the right. The Canadian international crossed to the far post where McDonald took a touch before stabbing into the net.

Scott Barron had a shot saved after good work from Peters, before Cambridge pulled a goal back, former Town man Ashley Nicholls volleying a wind-assisted corner beyond Lewis Price.

Just before the break, Barron fed McDonald wide on the left, the former Arsenal trainee crossed and midfielder Liam Manning headed in a rare goal.

Early in the second half Peters watched a header loop straight to the keeper before Barron and then McDonald had promising efforts stopped by the Cambridge keeper.

McDonald completed his hat-trick on the hour, Peters crossing low from the right, sub Blair Hammond laying the ball back and the striker again beating the keeper from six yards.

Nicholls wasn't far from adding to his side's goal with 15 minutes remaining, his low shot creeping through a number of players but the unsighted Price saved to his right.

On 82 Hammond crossed from the right and Cambridge's Nick Robbins, a former Town U16, headed into his own goal under pressure from sub Charlie Sheringham.

Two minutes later another sub, midfielder Adem Atay, cut in from the left and struck a cross-shot which went in via a combination of Sheringham and Peters, the Canadian claiming the first of what will hopefully be many goals in a Town shirt.

Late on Lewis Price showed why he has been called into the Wales squad, tipping Ashley Fuller's 25-yard strike over the bar.

A good display from the reserves in difficult conditions, Peters and McDonald impressing throughout with their pace and guile.

Peters looked at his best when wide on the right rather than down the middle and was involved in most of Town's best attacking moves, the second goal probably his best moment of the match.

The winger will officially sign for the Blues after his 18th birthday in May, visa and work permit issues having prevented him signing any earlier. His only previous appearances for Town were last summer during his trial, when he played for the U18s against Liverpool and the reserves against Needham Market.

McDonald, on a trial contract until the end of the season, will have done his cause no harm with his hat-trick, the first the best of the three.

French loanee Jimmy Juan played the full 90 minutes in central midfield and seemed to find the pace of the game quicker than he is used to. Irish central defender Gerard Nash continued his comeback after a knee injury with a solid and classy 90-minute display.

Reserves: Price, Mitchell, Haverson, Manning, Sobers (Patten 57), Nash, Flack (Hammond 57), Juan, McDonald (Sheringham 67), Peters, Barron (Atay 57).

Photo: Action Images

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