Town trio to face the Clarets

6:27am Wednesday 16th July 2008

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Dean Bowditch, Matt Richards and Billy Clarke are in the Ipswich Town squad for tonight's friendly at Chelmsford City.

With the rest of the Blues first-team squad on tour in Northern Ireland, it will be a young squad that takes on last season's Ryman League premier division champions (kick-off 7.45pm).

Bowditch, Richards and Clarke are by far the most experienced players, but it will be a chance for fans to watch some of the club's up-and-coming players like Ed Upson, Jai Reason, Paul Murphy and Reggie Lambe.

Town's senior players romped to a 7-0 victory against Belfast side Cliftonville on Monday - the first of three matches they will play in Northern Ireland.

Gary Roberts broke the deadlock and then set-up more first-half goals for Alan Lee and Danny Haynes.

Boss Jim Magilton made wholesale changes after the break and further goals followed for Jaime Peters, two for Alan Quinn and one for substitute David Wright.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher played at left-back for Town, having joined up with the squad for a week-long trial.

The Welsh international is without a club after leaving Charlton Athletic earlier this summer and will play again against Donegal Celtic on Thursday.

Town then play their final game against Glentoran on Saturday.

Of Thatcher, Magilton said: "Ben's a proven player at the top level and we're very well aware of his quality.

"We're taking the opportunity to look at each other over the next few days and then both Ben and ourselves will make a decision as to whether we want to take things forward."

Town midfielder David Norris is set to fly out to Northern Ireland, having recovered from a knock he suffered during Friday's 2-0 friendly win at Brentford.