By Jacob Henderson

Town U21s produced an impressive performance to beat Coventry City 4-1 in the Professional Development League at Portman Road.

First-half goals from Tommy Taylor, Jamie Mauge and Somto Boniface put the young Blues in control, with Gerrard Buabo scoring late on in front of 2,258 fans watching from the Cobbold Stand.

John McGreal's side started on the front foot and had the lead inside five minutes. A long pass was collected by Taylor and, after a misjudgement by Coventry 'keeper Eliot Meredith, the attacker slotted into an empty net.

Six minutes later Mauge scored the home side's second of the night. Taylor was the provider this time as he picked the ball up in midfield before playing a through ball to Mauge. The frontman drove forward and flicked the ball through a defender's legs before finishing well past Meredith.

McGreal's side extended their lead shortly before half-time, with Boniface capping off a good team move with a low strike after a perfectly weighted pass from Rio Morgan.

Chances were harder to come by early in the second half. Morgan did almost find the back of the net with an audacious effort from range just before the hour mark, but his lofted strike dropped just wide.

The visitors did pull a goal back with 65 minutes on the clock. Aston Ellard was able to fire in via a deflection after pinball in Town's penalty area.

Coventry midfielder Elliot Betjemann almost scored a second not long after, but he fired wide after good footwork to evade a couple of challenges inside Town's box.

Woody Williamson was also called into action when he stayed strong to push away Kai Yearn's strike, and at the other end Taylor missed the target when the ball came to him quickly near the penalty spot.

Buabo, who has been working his way back from injury and was introduced in the second half, scored in the dying stages and celebrated with all of his teammates near the corner flag.

Town U21s are next in Professional Development League action away to AFC Bournemouth on Monday, 21 April.

Town: Williamson, Agbaje (Babb 78'), Boniface, Elliott, Onuchukwu (Trialist 65'), Turner, Mendel (Adebayo 78'), Trialist, Mauge (Buabo 72'), T. Taylor (C), Morgan.

Subs not used: Fletcher.