Ipswich Town’s academy sides experienced contrasting fortunes in their latest outings, with the U18S narrowly beaten after a spirited performance at Brighton, while the U21S produced a composed and clinical display to secure a 3–0 win away to Birmingham City.
Both matches offered clear development moments, with young Blues continuing to gain valuable experience across the age groups.
U18S Fall 3–2 at Brighton After Early Lead
Barely holding on, Town’s U18S fell 3–2 to Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Elite Football Performance Centre. A quick start gave them hope. Still, even with a steady fight across a tough match, the edge slipped away late.
Off target early, Will Unadike found space in the 16th minute, slotting home neatly for the young Blues to lead. Right on the edge of halftime, Younes Ibrahim struck back for Brighton, evening things just as the teams regrouped.
The hosts, sitting fourth in the U18 Premier League South, pushed on after the interval. Anton Palmer put Brighton ahead on 73 minutes, before Jacob Parsons added a third five minutes later.
Town stood firm. A penalty brought Indiana Pedder closer in the 89th minute when captain Charlie Wood drew a foul, sparking brief optimism for the Blues. Yet moments later, during added time, Wood received a red card for another tackle, leaving Town with only ten players at the final whistle.
Despite the defeat, the U18S remain just two points behind Birmingham with two games in hand as they continue their push to climb off the bottom of the table.
U18S: Josh Bentley, Issac Boakye‑King, Jeremiah Berkeley‑Agyepong, Joshua Hammond (Felicio 74), Kellyan Olawole, Usisya Longwe (Harvey Ness 64), Joel Ladegbaye (McLoughlin 74), Charlie Wood (c), William Unadike, Indiana Pedder, Jayden Adetiba. Unused: Ruben Wreford, James Brentnall.
U21S Return to Form with Confident 3–0 Win at Birmingham
Ipswich Town’s U21S delivered a strong response to recent results, securing a comfortable 3–0 victory over Birmingham City at Stratford Town’s Arden Garages Stadium.
The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Josh Pitts finished well to put the Blues ahead. Birmingham had a golden chance to level seven minutes later, but Zaid Betteka fired wide from the penalty spot after Luca Fletcher had fouled William Burrell.
Ipswich capitalised on the let-off. Four Minutes before the half-time whistle, Charlie Compton doubled Town’s lead with a composed finish and in the first half stoppage time, Fletcher made amends by adding the third to put the game beyond doubt for John McGreal’s side.
The win for Ipswich lifts them to fifth in Premier League 2, having started the day down in seventh with one regular-season match to be played. Ipswich are already guaranteed a place in the Top-16 elimination play-offs, where first plays 16th, second plays 15th and so on. A Top-16 finish also secures entry to next season’s Premier League International Cup, offering further high-level development opportunities
U21S: Woody Williamson, Leon Elliott (Corbin Mthunzi 62), Somto Boniface, Walker Shabazz‑Edwards, Oliver Wilkinson, Ryan Carr, Tudor Mendel (Josh Lewis 69), Charlie Compton, Luca Fletcher (Sid Eldred 69), Frankie Runham, Josh Pitts ( Shakil Nicolaou 62). Unused: George Barrett.
A Weekend of Lessons and Momentum
The U18S ‘ narrow defeat to Brighton and the U21S ‘ win at Birmingham both offered valuable learning moments across the academy pathway. With the U21S building momentum ahead of the play-offs, and while the U18S show fight despite their league positions, the development curve remains strong across both groups .
Hannah Darbyshire
I am a 19 year old freelance football writer who covers Ipswich Town’s women’s, men’s, and academy teams. A regular at Portman Road and club fixtures across Suffolk, she brings clear, grounded match coverage shaped by a genuine connection to the game.