Town Exit Premier Cup After Leiston Thrashing
Tuesday, 17th Dec 2024 23:42
A young Town XI were unceremoniously dumped out of this season's Suffolk Premier Cup at the quarter-final stage on Tuesday evening when they were thrashed 5-0 by Leiston at Victory Road.
The young Blues, with David Wright and Matt Pooley in charge, had the swirling wind behind them in the first half and they started well, with Darragh McCann crashing a shot off the bar early on after a well-worked corner.
Home striker Ben Fowkes hit an effort across goal but wide of the target on 13 following a quick break, before Town right-back Daniel Babb cut in but curled a left-footed shot over the bar on the half hour.
Soon after, Fowkes hit a low shot just wide of the near post and then Town were forced into an early change when trialist Josh Adepoju, formerly with MK Dons, replaced the injured Nelson Eze.
Within seconds, Town gifted the hosts the lead. A pass out from the back was intercepted and the ball was fed through to Fowkes, who slid it under the advancing Alan Fleischer.
Five minutes before the break, Emmanuel Okunowo picked up the game's first yellow card for a foul, and from the resultant free-kick, the home side doubled their advantage. The ball was played short and a low cross from the left side was touched home inside the six-yard box by former Town youngster Albie Armin.
Town again made a good start to the half after the break with Oli Davis twice coming close to pulling a goal back in the opening few minutes, the first of his strikes forcing home keeper Ellis Craven into a fine diving save.
At the other end, Fleischer produced a similarly impressive fingertip save to deny Fowkes his second, before watching Ollie Saunders' effort just about clear his crossbar on the hour mark.
Leiston had regained control at this point and it was no surprise when they added a third on 70. Another short free-kick caught Town out with a low cross from Fowkes being tapped home at the back post by the on-rushing Kyran Clements - younger brother of former Blue Bailey, and also the current academy player care officer in Town's academy.
Two minutes later, it was four when another defensive lapse let in George Quantrell, who burst forward and deftly lifted the ball over Fleischer to score.
The goal of the night came on 79 though when Leiston sub Ismael Fatadjo expertly curled a fine free-kick into the top corner from 30 yards out.
The Blues youngsters will no doubt be disappointed with the way that at least a few of the goals were presented to the home side and aside from one Davis effort, they really failed to test Craven at the other end.
Town XI: Fleischer, Babb, O'Sullivan, Heard, Onuchukwu (Frith 46), Iorpenda, McCann (Unadike 68), Okunowo, Davis, Eze (Adepoju 35), Morgan. Unused: Chenery, Fletcher. Att: 116.
_Photo: Action Images_
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