By Aston
April 23 2005

After 30 years of waiting Ipswich Town youth team lifted the FA Youth cup for the 3rd in its history after beating Southampton last night.

15 year old Ed Upson scored the only goal of the night deep into the second half of extra time of the second leg of the final last night.

Town midfielder Owen Garvan missed the game last night with a infection, Danny Haynes replacing him in the starting line-up.

Southampton started the better side and could have been a goal or two up early on, Theo Walcott left James Krause standing but his cross only made it as far as Shane Supple in the Town goal.

Lloyd James sent a header wide, Nathan Dyer and Leon Best were both denied by well timed tackles by Aidan Collins.

Town’s first chance fell to Darryl Knights who fired straight at Saints ‘keeper Andrew McNeil, while Shane Supple had to be at his best to deny David McGoldrick as the half ended.

Southampton came within a whisker of taking the lead twice in the second half Shane Supple produced a fantastic double save to keep Southampton’s Tim Sparv out.

The saints did however have the ball in the back of the net with ten minutes to go only for the offside flag to be raised.

Town came agonisingly close to winning the game in final moments of normal time when Blair Hammond failed to score from four yards after Darryl Knights’ effort was only parried by the Southampton ’keeper. With the game going into 30 minutes of extra time.

Just after extra time had got under way Hammond again could of won the game for Town, Darryl Knights crossed to Hammond whose shot was saved by McNeil. Knights also set up Charlie Sheringham who failed to find the net.

Just before the break in extra time Bryan Klug gave 15-year-old Ed Upson his FA youth cup debut replacing Liam Trotter.

Both sides had chances to win the game in the second half of extra time but it was Town who got the goal 3 minutes from time, Upson blasting the ball home from 25 yards to send Portman Road into carnival mode.

Town line-up: Supple, Synnott, Krause, Collins, Casement, Trotter (Upson 114) , Lordan (Trotter 80), Haynes (Sheringham 71), Knights, Craig. Subs not used: Reynolds, Ainsley.

Attendance: 14,889

Referee: Mr Andre Marriner

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