The Blues’ victory coupled with Tottenham’s defeat away to Aston Villa means we have won the regionalised league with two games to spare and will now contest the national final next month.

Greenwood netted twice inside the opening nine minutes, first firing into the far corner on his left and then converting from close range at the end of a slick Chelsea move.

We continued to attack but had to wait until the second half before the scoreline more accurately reflected our dominance. Lewi Richards bagged from distance before Sol Gordon lashed an accurate finish into the roof of the net.

Gordon was denied from the spot but Kobe Barbour made no such mistake when we were awarded another penalty with ten minutes remaining.

The celebrations could begin at full-time after another goal-laden and stellar performance underlined why our Under-18 team are worthy champions of the Premier League South.

Bright start

Inside the first couple of minutes the Blues twice had good sights of goal with Gordon and Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli threatening, so it came as no surprise when we took the lead shortly afterwards.

Greenwood drove into the box from the left-hand side and fired a shot across goal and into the far corner, a slight deflection taking it past Ipswich keeper Edward Twyman.

The Tractor Boys nearly responded immediately after a mix-up in the Blues defence gave Sid Eldred a presentable opening, but Olutayo Subuloye was well positioned to clear his effort off the line.

Doubling up

Chelsea went up the other end and doubled our advantage. Richards played a sublime reverse pass to set Ibrahim Rabbaj away, and he laid the ball on a plate for Greenwood to convert from a couple of yards out. Not even nine minutes had been played and we were two goals to the good.

The young Blues continued to dominate the contest, pinning Ipswich in their own half and using the width in the team to try and prise the visitors open.

Nicoll-Jazuli headed over midway through the half and the next chance fell Barbour’s way after a well-worked set-piece. Twyman stood tall to block our no.10’s shot on the spin.

Woodwork struck

On 38 minutes, Greenwood came very close to completing his hat-trick after Barbour’s cross was cleared high into the sky and the Chelsea striker headed against the top of the crossbar.

We struck the woodwork again with virtually the last kick of the half, Richards’ curling free-kick thudding into the base of the post. The ball fell to Greenwood whose shot was cleared off the line by a retreating Ipswich defender.

Chelsea started the second half as we had the first, and Josh Hammond very nearly put through his own net from Barbour’s dangerous delivery. Twyman made a flying save.

The keeper then saved Dante Waite’s acrobatic effort while at the other end, Ipswich felt they should have had a penalty for a foul by Subuloye. The referee was having none of it.

On a hot day in Surrey, the pace of the game was affected as we approached the hour mark, with Chelsea content to keep the ball and Ipswich standing firm. On the hour, Andrew Pennie came on for his fourth appearance of the season meaning there would be no hat-trick for Greenwood.

Three goals in 15 minutes

Midway through the second half, Richards chanced his arm from distance and was rewarded when his low shot evaded Twyman and nestled in the bottom corner.

As in the first half we struck again within three minutes. This time Gordon was the scorer, accurately blasting the ball into the roof of the net at Twyman’s near post after Barbour’s touch had teed up an opportunity.

Yisa Alao and Hezekiah Grimwade entered the fray and it was Alao who was brought down inside the box on 76 minutes, presenting Gordon with a chance to net his second of the game. However, Twyman guessed currently, diving to his left and parrying the spot-kick to safety.

There was nothing he could do about the next penalty just four minutes later. This time it was Grimwade that was felled – by Twyman – and Barbour stepped up and swept his strike from 12 yards high down the middle.

What it means...

Chelsea are the Under-18 PL South champions for 2025/26 and can enjoy the end of the season knowing they will compete for the national title against Manchester City or Manchester United.

What's next...

A game away to Birmingham City next Saturday 2 May. Kick-off is at 12 noon and the game will be shown live on the Chelsea Official App and website.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Toby Bell; Lewi Richards, Dante Waite (c), Olutayo Subuloye, Calvin Diakite (Yisa Alao 70); Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Isaac Badu, Kobe Barbour; Ibrahim Rabbaj (Hezekiah Grimwade 70), Jashayde Greenwood (Andrew Pennie 63), Sol Gordon
Unused subs: Freddy Bernal, Riley Ebho
Scorers: Greenwood 6, 9, Richards 66, Gordon 69, Barbour pen 81
Booked: Pennie 71

Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Edward Twyman; Josh Hammond, Daniel Ologho, Kellyan Olawole, Bobby Sains; Indiana Pedder (Pedro Felicio h/t), Harvey Ness (Jackson Chukwu-Nsofor 73); Shakil Nicolaou, Claudio Nzang (Othman Kaddoura 73), Jeremiah Berkeley-Agyepong; Sid Eldred (Roman Burton-Yurevich 67)
Unused subs: Will Fletcher
Booked: Felicio 76

Referee Thomas Price