Town's U18s suffered a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat at Walsham-le-Willows after a 1-1 draw in the Suffolk FA Premier Cup on Tuesday evening, sub Reuben Carr (pictured) netting in the second half.

After a minute's silence before kick-off in memory of Kaylem Scopes - a former Town academy player who passed away a few days ago following a battle with leukaemia - the Blues' youngsters had the first sight of goal on 14 when ex-Chelsea youngster Chris Atherton cut in from the left wing and hit a low shot wide of the near post from 20 yards out.

Striker Toks Olakazim picked up the game's first yellow card shortly after for a high challenge on Conner Lewis.

On the half hour, Ryan Clark hit a long-range swerving shot which Town keeper Josh Bentley gathered, before Atherton teed-up Isaac Boakye-King at the other end but the midfielder shot high and wide from distance.

The last action of the first half saw Blues defender Kellyan Olawole booked for a foul, with Bentley again comfortably saving the resultant free-kick.

A minute after the restart, Town broke and the impressive Atherton entered the box and saw his shot deflected just over at the near post.

On 66 Boakye-King released frontman Roman Burton-Yurevich but his low shot across goal was saved by Walsham stopper George Howes.

Two minutes later, the side coached by Mark Robinson and Jimmy Smith took the lead. Atherton provided a dangerous low cross from the left and Carr diverted the ball into the net from close range.

The hosts were close to equalising soon after when Charlie Smy found Reon Huckvale and his deflated effort was tipped just wide by Bentley.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, Ibrahim Msabah led a Town counter-attack which saw Joel Ladegbaye cutting in and hitting a low shot that Howes could only parry. Burton-Yurevich followed-up from six yards out but a combination of Howes and defender Matt Collins managed to deflect the ball over the bar.

Praise Adebayo was next to test Howes at his near post, moments before Carr was cautioned after going down in the box. Skipper Boakye-King joined him in the book soon after for preventing a quick free-kick being taken.

On 86, the non-league side grabbed an equaliser direct from a free-kick, which had been awarded for a questionable handball decision just outside the penalty box. Sub Tommy Robinson stepped up and struck a low shot which found its way through the Town wall and into the net.

That took the game to penalties and although Bentley saved two spot-kicks, Atherton saw his saved and Burton-Yurevich fired over so after five penalties each, it was 3-3 with Ladegbaye, Carr, and Boakye-King all finding the net.

With the shootout now into sudden death, Reece Lanchester stepped up and scored for Walsham with keeper Howes the hero, saving from Msabah.

U18s: Bentley, Felicio, Adebayo, Boakye-King, Olawole (Brown 79), Brentnall (Hammond 79), Ladegbaye, Msabah, Olakazim (Carr 62), Burton-Yurevich, Atherton. Unused: Wreford.

Photo: TWTD