Town's U18 side continued their pre-season preparations with a 4-0 victory against Grimsby Town at Playford Road on Tuesday afternoon.

The young Blues had right-back Matt Wooldridge to thank for keeping the scores level early on, as he was in the right place to clear Declan Slater's goalbound header after new first-year scholar Toby Egan had parried Ty-Rhys Paul-Jones's initial effort.

Striker Zak Brown hit a left-foot shot across goal and off the foot of the far post on the half hour, but within seconds he did put Town ahead after bursting through and calmly finishing past the advancing keeper.

Brown turned provider for the second on 81 when he released Kian Ronan (pictured), and the Gibraltar U17 and U19 international rounded the keeper before rolling the ball into an empty net.

With a minute remaining sub Jack Lankester added a third when he converted Thomas Hughes's fine cross from the left, before the former chipped the ball into the path of Albert Wilton and he finished emphatically with the last kick of the game.

The final score line was harsh on the visitors, who are currently coached by ex-Blues striker Neil Woods, but Town took their chances well and they'll now look forward to Saturday's U18 friendly at home to local rivals Norwich City.

Meanwhile, Blues schoolboy Ben Knight is with the England U16s for a four-team tournament in Scotland.

The forward started as the England youngsters beat Uruguay 2-0 at Heriott Watt University this afternoon. The hosts and Qatar are the other nations taking part.

U18s: Egan, Wooldridge, Barley, Ndaba (Ronan 72), Henry (Marshall 72), Vega, Foudil (Wilton 72), D Crowe (Dobra 72), Brown, Obazee (Lankester 46), Hughes. Unused: Wright, Clements.

Photo: TWTD

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