IPSWICH Town Under-18s are through to the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Semi-Finals for the first time in five seasons.

The Town’s Academy side withstood a second-half barrage from Ipswich Wanderers to win their quarter-final tie 2-1 at Humber Doucy Lane on Tuesday night.

It will be the first time since they lost 2-1 to Leiston in the 2018-19 season and only the second time since the 2012-13 season that the county’s only professional club will be represented in the final four of the competition.

The visitors dominated the first-half, striking the frame of the goal four times, the ball going in off Wanderers’ keeper Craig Brand after Ashton Boswell’s 25-yard free-kick hit the underside of the crossbar in the 19th minute.

They extended their lead five minutes into the second period, Boswell beating the offside trap to race clear and coolly place the ball beyond Brand.

Ashton Boswell beats Ipswich Wanderers keeper Craig Brand to put Ipswich Town U18s 2-0 ahead in their quarter-final tie on Tuesday night. Main photograph: Boswell's 25-yard free-kick hits the underside of the crossbar and is about to enter the net off the back of Brand. Photographs: Paul Voller

Wanderers then mounted a fightback and Andy Fennell fastened on to Isaac Skubich’s through ball to halve the deficit in the 55th minute.

The home team then dominated thereafter, and Town’s keeper Charlie Binns had to produce some good saves, notably from Fennell’s header diving to his right after 73 minutes.

Ipswich Town U18s coach Callum Tongue said: “That was a bit of a different game to the last round, but it was another great challenge for the lads, which is exactly what we are getting from this competition and it keeps delivering some great experiences for our players.

“I am so proud of them today for the way they stood up to a team that you can see are bang in form and a manager who has got his team working for him.

“For our lads to stand up to that and stand up to a very different challenge to what we normally get, I am really happy and really happy for the lads that they now get to experience the semi-final of such a good competition.”

Tongue agreed that his side deserved to be more than one goal ahead at the interval.

“I thought we played really well in the first half, but they came into it towards the back end of the half, but for the majority of the half we were really good.

“I just think if we had got a second it would have maybe changed the game, but that’s another learning lessons what can happen if you don’t take your chances,” he said.

Tongue said after scoring their second goal his side had ‘relaxed a touch’ and his players needed to stay switched on.

“We could have managed the game better and controlled the possession longer, but it made for an interesting end,” he added.

Andy Fennell (not in picture) scores for Ipswich Wanderers against Ipswich Town U18s at Humber Doucy Lane. Photograph: Paul Voller

Ipswich Town join Leiston in the final four of this season’s competition and will wait to see who will join them.

Felixstowe & Walton United host lower-league Hadleigh United on Wednesday evening, while holders Needham Market entertain Stowmarket Town next Tuesday in a repeat of last season’s final.

Brantham Athletic Under-23s booked their place in the quarter-finals of this season's Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup with a 4-0 vicvtory over Framlingham Town on Tuesday night.

Midweek Results

Tuesday

Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Quarter-Final: Ipswich Wanderers v Ipswich Town U18s.

Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Second Round: Framlingham Town U23s 0 Brantham Athletic U23s 4.

Midweek Fixtures

Kick-offs 7.45pm unless stated:

Wednesday

Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Quarter-Final: Felixstowe & Walton Utd v Hadleigh Utd.

Thursday

Veo Suffolk Under-18 Midweek Cup First Round: Ipswich Wanderers v Cornard Utd, Stowmarket Town v Hadleigh Utd.