WATFORD'S Academy side lost 3-1 to Ipswich Town in the fourth round of the FA Youth cup at Portman Road this evening (Wednesday).

The Golden Boys were strong in the first half and took the lead through Piero Mingoia with quarter of an hour gone, after an excellent pull back across goal from Liam Henderson.

However the home side equalised before half time through Paul Murphy and two strikes after half time from striker Jordan Rhodes dumped the youngsters out of the competition.

Ipswich were stronger after the break and the Hornets never got going after putting in an encouraging first half display.

Watford weren't helped with the loss of key players during the second half. Centre half Aaron Beech was stretchered from the pitch with a serious head injury just after the hour mark and then Lee Hodson and Ross Jenkins also limped off with less serious knocks and cramp.

A healthy crowd witnessed the cup clash, with the Tractor Boys offering 1000 free tickets to those through the turnstiles. The opening exchanges saw the Golden Boys try to settle to the pace of the game and Ipswich having the majority of the possession.

The 'Orns looked dangerous on the break though and grew in stature fairly quickly. Firstly Billy Gibson blasted over the bar after a Lewis Young corner was only cleared as far as the wide man.

Then with their next attack the Watford youngsters opened the scoring. Schoolboy Mingoia, playing out wide in midfield, got himself in the box and was perfectly placed to tap home from a few yards out after excellent running and a great cross from Henderson.

The Hornets continued to press the home team and Henderson brought about one of the saves of the game from Town 'keeper Andrew Plummer. The target man controlled the ball and spun and shot sending the home keeper diving.

Ipswich's Murphy could have drawn the scores level but his shot flashed wide of the post. Then Beech produced a superb last ditch tackle to deny a scoring opportunity for the Tractor Boys.

Town started to come back into the game and Rhodes drilled a stinging shot against the post that dribbled far too close to the goal for comfort, before the ball was blasted clear.

Jenkins and Gibson then both fire shots over the bar, before the home side wrestled their way back to equal terms.

The Tractor Boys scored after a decent cross into the box was knocked down by Rhodes and flashed past Jonathan North after a pinpoint strike from Murphy.

The visitors put in a composed first half performance and took their chance well. Jenkins in the centre of the park kept the ball very well and slowed the game down when need be and was a solid presence in front of the back four.

Captain Dale Bennett was also a rock at the heart of the defence. He had a busy game dealing with Rhodes and Murphy and was even busier after Beech went off. But he stuck to his task throughout and put in an assured performance.

After the break the Golden Boys never got going in the same manner, and the home side drew encouragement from their equaliser and had plenty of chances to win by a greater margin.

Ipswich took the lead through a penalty kick after Beech was adjudged to have brought down a Town youngster. Rhodes stepped up and coolly fired by North to put the visitors in front.

Chances started to come for the home side with Rhodes and his strike partner Murphy both having efforts on North's goal.

Just after the hour mark Beech went down with a head injury and was sadly stretchered from the pitch. This forced the Hornets to re-adjust with Jenkins sitting deeper and joining the other three defenders.

Marvin Sordell came on for Beech and the management would have hoped his pace would have had an impact like it did in the last round. His first shot at goal hit the side netting but was just offside.

Ipswich still looked composed and added a third with just over ten minutes left. Rhodes was again on target as he kept onside and hooked the ball over North in goal.

After the third was added the Golden Boys lost Jenkins and Hodson with minor injuries and forced further changes in personnel.

Eight minutes of time was added on due to Beech's injury but the 'Orns couldn't find anyway back into the cup clash.

Ipswich were the stronger team on the night and pushed on after the break, while the Hornets couldn't muster the same type of performance during the second 45 minutes and were hampered by injuries in the last half an hour. 

IPSWICH TOWN: Plummer; Clemo, Robinson, Watson, Smith; Willams (c), Upson, Reason (Thompson Lambe 82); Ainsley, Rhodes, Murphy. Subs not used: Daniels, Ward, Hyam, Calver.

WATFORD: North, Hodson (Kiernan 88), Lavers, Beech (Sordell 64), Bennett (c); Jenkins (Oshodi 80), Mingoia, Forbes, Gibson; Henderson, Young. Subs not used: Antal (gk), Maxwell.   

BOOKINGS: WATFORD; Mingoia (36), Beech (49).IPSWICH TOWN; Reason (84).

SENDINGS OFF: WATFORD; none. IPSWICH TOWN; none.

GOALS: WATFORD; Mingoia (15). IPSWICH TOWN: Murphy (38), Rhodes (49, 80).

REFEREE: Mr B C O'Sullivan