New academy strike pair Jordan Rhodes and Viktor Unnar Illugason netted four goals each in their respective games on Saturday.

Rhodes — whose four goals included two penalties - took his total for the season to 39 at all levels as the Blues U18s drew 5-5 with Birmingham at Playford Road, while Icelander Illugason scored all but one for his current club Breidablik's U19 side in a 5-2 victory and also missed a penalty.

The duo will join the academy full-time in August, Town allowing Illugason to play through the Icelandic season before he comes to Playford Road where he is likely to partner Rhodes in next season's U18 attack.

Illugason, already an Iceland U17 international, has scored two goals in three senior games for the Breidablik first team and is close to winning himself a regular starting role.

Tony Boto scored the other goal for an injury-hit Town U18s in an extraordinary game with Birmingham on Saturday morning, keeper Andy Plummer conceding five goals for the second time in a week.

The Town U16s, who lost several regulars to the U18 side, were defeated 3-1 by the same opposition.

Amongst the spectators at Playford Road on Saturday morning was striker Billy Clarke who had been left out of loan club Colchester's squad after suffering a slight hamstring injury.

U18s: Plummer, Webster, Trotter, Krause, S Ainsley, Boto, Moore, Upson, Reason (Tooms), Leabon (J Ainsley), Rhodes. Unused: Williams.

Photo: Action Images

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