GOALS from Robert Dickinson and Darren Bent condemned Saints Reserves to a 2-0 defeat and took a youthful Ipswich Town side back to the top of the FA Premier Reserve League (South) table.

Saints misery was not helped by Kevin Davies missing a penalty, which was saved by Lewis Prince.

Robert Dickinson had given Ipswich the lead at a sun-soaked Playford Road training pitch after seven minutes

It came when Richard Naylor, played a clever reverse ball down the left flank and Dickinson surged into the area before beating Williams at his near post from an acute angle.

Only good defending from Steven Gray denied Bent as he chased onto a through ball, and moments later the Saints defender was booked for a crude tackle on Richard Naylor.

Dickinson curled a free-kick over the bar and substitute Robert Dickinson smashed a powerful 25 yard shot against the crossbar with Williams beaten.

Bent notched his 31st goal in all competitions in the tenth minute, when a lovely through ball picked him out from Ian Westlake.

He showed his pace, power and ability, in one exquisite moment to thrash the ball over Saints' goalkeeper, Gareth Williams.

The Saints panted and probed but never really penetrated, although skipper Garry Monk had a first half header from a corner tipped onto the crossbar.

Second half substitute Brian Howard had two good angled shots after cutting in from the left, the first well saved by Price the other not far wide.

Davies, hoping to regain his first team place, blazed a shot over the bar, and was well high with another effort from 25 yards.

Mark Draper's free-kick sailed into the Ipswich goalkeeper's arms, and both Chris Baird and Scott McDonald had shots kept out.

Ipswich Town Res: Price, Artun, Snowdon, Nicholls, Brown, Beevers, Bloomfield, Westlake, Naylor (Logan, 74) Bent (Robinson, 74) Dickinson. Subs not used: Peat, Richards, Bonwick.

Southampton Res: Williams, Baird, Paote, Gray, Monk, Draper, Davies, Gleeson, McDonald, Hasseli (Howard, 46) Davies. Subs not used: Jones, Crowell, Byles.