GARY Roberts staked his claim for a place in the Ipswich Town first team for Saturday's Coca Cola Championship opener with a goal at Dartford tonight.On a splendid pitch, but with at times a thunderstorm producing torrential rain, the Blues beat their Ryman League opponents comfortably 3-1.

By Elvin King

GARY Roberts staked his claim for a place in the Ipswich Town first team for Saturday's Coca Cola Championship opener with a goal at Dartford tonight.

On a splendid pitch, but with at times a thunderstorm producing torrential rain, the Blues beat their Ryman League opponents comfortably 3-1.

And Roberts, who was left out of the squad for Sunday's win over Panathinaikos, showed he was fully fit by lasting 80 minutes and notching the opening goal in the 35th minute.

Billy Clarke won possession to blast in a second goal soon after the interval, and George O'Callaghan collected the third goal with an excellent left-foot finish with two minutes to go.