BILLY Clarke sent this message today to Ipswich Town fans: “Scoring gives me such a buzz, and I know I will never lose it.”He looked ahead to tomorrow's Championship clash with Coventry at Portman Road and said: “Now I have broke my league duck I want some more.

By Elvin King

BILLY Clarke sent this message today to Ipswich Town fans: “Scoring gives me such a buzz, and I know I will never lose it.”

He looked ahead to

tomorrow's Championship clash with Coventry at Portman Road and said: “Now I have broke my league duck I want some more.

“I was still on cloud nine an hour after heading the

winning goal against Southampton on Saturday.

“It was the biggest buzz I have received in football so far and it is a feeling I want to repeat.

“I live to score goals and know I can do it at first team level.

“When the ball went into the net I didn't know what to do as I was so happy.”

Clarke, 18, is set to keep his feet on the ground judged by his professional approach. He delayed any celebrations to stay

in on Saturday night with flat mate Scott Barron and enjoy a takeaway before going to the training ground for a brief session yesterday.

The lad from Cork scored his first senior goal in the Carling Cup game at Peterborough last month, and came off the substitute's bench to head a Mark Noble free-kick high into the net in the 78th minute on Saturday.

With Southampton hitting the woodwork twice and having enough chances to have won three matches, it was a fortunate first home victory for Blues manager Jim Magilton.

The luck of the Irish was with Town, with Clarke admitting that he took a gamble when Noble swung over his corner.

“I missed out on an earlier kick from the same position when Alan Lee flicked the ball on towards the far post,” said Clarke.

“When we won another free-kick in a similar place I decided to gamble this time on a far post ball, and it worked.

“I don't score many with my head, and the manager and staff have been ribbing me about it.

“It was a good team effort and sometimes you need a bit of luck.

“The team has not always enjoyed the best of fortune.”

Magilton is excited by Clarke's ability saying: “Billy is a predator and he could be top notch.

“I can't recall him scoring with his head before - I thought it was Jason De Vos.”

Kenwyne Jones put Southampton into an third minute lead with Simon Walton joining Clarke on top of the Town scoring charts with a 67th minute penalty after Lee had been fouled by Pedro Pele.

HOW good do you think Billy Clarke is? Could he be Town's new Darren Bent? Let us know by e-mailing:

starsport@eveningstar.co.uk