IPSWICH TOWN RESERVES 3 WEST HAM RESERVES 2: Sixto Peralta staked a claim for a first team start in next Tuesday's Worthington Cup match at Crewe Alexandra with two fine goals. The Argentinean volleyed home a simply superb 22-yard shot after 44 minutes and then headed a winning goal three minutes from the end of an absorbing contest at Portman Road last night.

By Elvin King

SIXTO Peralta staked a claim for a first team start in next Tuesday's Worthington Cup match at Crewe Alexandra with two fine goals.

The Argentinean volleyed home a simply superb 22-yard shot after 44 minutes and then headed a winning goal three minutes from the end of an absorbing contest at Portman Road last night.

The Hammers, by this time down to ten men, were kept at bay for the remaining three minutes as Town picked up their first FA Premier Reserve League victory of the season after two previous 3-3 draws.

Peralta stood out in a quality game and with watching Town manager George Burley unlikely to field his full first team at Gresty Road the South American, who is on loan from Inter Milan for one season, could well make his first team debut.

It was also an important night for Andy Marshall, who when captured from Norwich City during the close season was expected to replace Richard Wright as Ipswich's number one goalkeeper.

Injury and the arrival from Italy of Matteo Sereni have seen Marshall drop down the rankings and he has not featured on the bench for a first team game yet.

He was made to keep alert by a busy West Ham front line, but will not be happy to concede a goal inside his near post when Paul Kitson rifled in an 18-yard effort after a quick break forward in the 62nd minute.

This levelled the scores and from then on it was anybody's match until Peralta pulled away from his marker to reach the far post and powerfully head home an accurate free-kick from Jamie Clapham.

Clapham and fellow full back Fabian Wilnis were given full games while summer signing from Hartlepool, Tommy Miller, patrolled effectively around the midfield and is another player who could well face Crewe.

It is a sign of the times that foreign names such as Sixto and Pablo now echo round Portman Road in second XI games. Such is the need to have a competitive squad to compete in the Premiership.

Spaniard Pablo Counago played up front with flair and imagination and he could also be on next Tuesday's team sheet.

It was also a good night for young central defenders Justin Miller and Lee Beevers with the former in particular having a game full of promise.

Watching West Ham coach Paul Goddard must have looked on with mixed feelings having played a big part in Miller and Beevers' early careers when coaching at Town's Academy until last summer.

The best player on the field was speedy Hammers striker Richard Garcia, who caused danger whenever he had control of the ball. He scored a goal but then got sent off.

Garcia opened the scoring in the 19th minute when he planted a well-directed header well wide of Marshall from Leon Britton's corner. Booked after 52 minutes for a foul on Darren Bent he was then shown a second yellow card for tackling Clapham from behind in the 81st minute.

Town equalised Garcia's goal in the 39th minute when Hayden Foxe and Stephen Bywater got in a muddle when put under pressure by Counago, and the ball ran loose for Ashley Nicholls to strike home.

Five minutes later Clapham's corner was headed out as far as Peralta and he struck a right-foot volley with such venom that the flying Bywater could only touch the ball inside the post.

Teams

Ipswich: Marshall, Wilnis, Clapham, Nicholls (sub Bent 46 mins), Miller, Beevers (Snowdon 72), Abidallah (Logan 83), Miller, Naylor, Counago, Peralta. Subs not used: Peat, Artun.

West Ham: Bywater, Minto, Soma, Ferrante, Potts, Foxe, Newton, Moncur (Johnson 77), Kitson, Garcia, Britton. Subs: Forrest, U'ddin, Clark, Cascione.

Referee: Mr A Wilikins.

Attendance: 1252.