Ipswich Town 8 (9) Avenir Beggen 1 (1): IPSWICH Town cruised through to the first round of the UEFA Cup after hammering Avenir Beggen 8-1 in the second-leg of their qualifying round tie at Portman Road to go through 9-1 on aggregate.

Ipswich Town 8 (9) Avenir Beggen 1 (1)

IPSWICH Town cruised through to the first round of the UEFA Cup after hammering Avenir Beggen 8-1 in the second-leg of their qualifying round tie at Portman Road to go through 9-1 on aggregate.

The result was never in doubt after Tommy Miller opened the scoring after just three minutes. Pablo Counago played the ball into the box and Miller got there first to force the ball over the line.

On 17 minutes Counago sealed Town's place in the next round with a delightful piece of skill to beat his man before producing a fantastic finish.

Within a minute Town were back on the attack and good play between Marcus Bent and Counago allowed Counago to set up Miller for his second goal of the game finishing a simple chance.

There was a third Town goal in as many minutes with Counago scoring his second and Town's fourth when Wayne Brown found space down the left and crossed for Counago to score.

Ipswich continued to press forward in numbers and Beggen had no answer to the pace and power of the Town pressure.

On 41 minutes Jim Magilton sent over an Ipswich corner which Brown met at the far post to power home a header.

Ipswich went in at half-time 5-0 up on the night and leading 6-0 on aggregate and it was only a question of how many Ipswich could score.

Freshened up by the half-time break Beggen defended more stubbornly in the opening moments of the second-half and enjoyed by far their best spell of the game.

Indeed on 56 minutes Beggen pulled back a consolation goal when Gregory Molitor met a deep cross with a smashing diving header.

But Ipswich hit back just five minutes later to make it 6-1 on the night when John McGreal added his name to the scoresheet after Fabian Wilnis had his shot blocked only for the ball to fall to McGreal who side-footed the ball home.

Counago completed his hat-trick after 70 minutes, slotting home a simple chance after having his first shot saved.

With 14 minutes remaining substitute Darren Ambrose continued his habit of getting amongst the goals when he arrived on the end of Finidi George's cross to seal Town's 8-1 win.

Ipswich now go into tomorrow's draw for the UEFA Cup first round which will be made in Monte Carlo at 1pm. Town will be seeded in the draw which gives them every chance of progressing and Ipswich fans will no doubt be looking forward to more nights of European glory.

FIND out who Town will face in the UEFA Cup first by visiting www.premierblues.co.uk at 1pm on Friday.