Full-time score from Calmont Road
Goals from Jamie Philpot, Alfie Pavey (penalty) and sub Fejiri Okenabirhie handed a new-look Millwall Elite Development side a 3-0 win against Ipswich Town on Friday afternoon.The Lions included a trio of youth team players - Harry Girling, Noah Chesmain and Ebere Eze - along with trialists Giancarlo Gallifuoco, Ioannis Raisis and goalscorer Okenabirhie in their squad.
Australian Gallifuoco, 21, enjoyed stints at Spurs and Swansea City, Raisis, 19, has played in the Bundesliga Junior-B League and striker Okenabirhie, 17, is a former Stevenage trainee.
"We started with three youth team players and three trialists which could have disrupted the team," said Elite Development Squad manager Justin Skinner. "All six, however, acquitted themselves well and credit to that has to go to some of the regular U21 players who made it easy for them to settle in."
Millwall took just two minutes to open their account against the Tractor Boys when Pavey's shot was beaten away by the visiting keeper and strike partner Philpot lofted the ball first-time over the keeper's head and into the back of the net from 16 yards with a precision finish.
"Alfie and Jamie are forming a good partnership and complement each other well," added Skinner. "The opening goal was good play from both strikers."
The Lions went 2-0 ahead on 42 minutes, this time Pavey's close control coaxed a foul out of an Ipswich defender in the penalty area, and the young frontman despatched the resulting spot-kick with aplomb.
Sub Okenabirhie put the result beyond Ipswich's reach with a third goal in the 60th-minute. Eze won possession in midfield and picked out Okenabirhie with a superb through ball to put him in a one-on-one with the keeper. The 17-year-old showed a cool head and clipped the ball beyond the keeper's reach.
"It was a fabulous pass by Eze and slotted home nicely too," enthused Skinner, "It also put the seal on a good, solid performance by the team."
The manager had a special word of praise for right-back Carlos Edwards, who got some more match minutes under his belt as he looks to push his way back into manager Neil Harris' first team squad.
"Carlos has been fantastic," he said. "He is a great example to the younger lads and I honestly think that you would be hard pressed to find a better pro than him. He has been exceptional."
Millwall took just two minutes to open their account against the Tractor Boys when Pavey's shot was beaten away by the visiting keeper and strike partner Philpot lofted the ball first-time over the keeper's head and into the back of the net from 16 yards with a precision finish.
"Alfie and Jamie are forming a good partnership and complement each other well," added Skinner. "The opening goal was good play from both strikers."
The Lions went 2-0 ahead on 42 minutes, this time Pavey's close control coaxed a foul out of an Ipswich defender in the penalty area, and the young frontman despatched the resulting spot-kick with aplomb.
Sub Okenabirhie put the result beyond Ipswich's reach with a third goal in the 60th-minute. Eze won possession in midfield and picked out Okenabirhie with a superb through ball to put him in a one-on-one with the keeper. The 17-year-old showed a cool head and clipped the ball beyond the keeper's reach.
"It was a fabulous pass by Eze and slotted home nicely too," enthused Skinner, "It also put the seal on a good, solid performance by the team."
The manager had a special word of praise for right-back Carlos Edwards, who got some more match minutes under his belt as he looks to push his way back into manager Neil Harris' first team squad.
"Carlos has been fantastic," he said. "He is a great example to the younger lads and I honestly think that you would be hard pressed to find a better pro than him. He has been exceptional."
Millwall: Girling, Edwards (Parr), Chesmain, Farrell, Gallifuoco, Mbulu, Raisis, Romeo (Okenabirhie), Pavey, Philpot, Eze. Subs not used: Bray, Barton, Brown.
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