Reggie Lambe made his league debut in Ipswich Town's surprise victory over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

The 19-year-old midfielder jumped off the bench after 64 minutes as his side made a winning start to the new Championship season, replacing Trinidad international Carlos Edwards.

Lambe went close to scoring when he found space in the box but scuffed his shot wide of the post.

Town coach Roy Keane was full of praise for Lambe and his team's other homegrown youngsters who all performed well against Boro.

"We had a lot of youngsters involved today and they did well. I knew lads like Luke (Hyam), Reggie and Jack (Ainsley) wouldn't let anyone down and they didn't," Keane told the Ipswich Town website.

"The young lads provide a lot of energy and that's a good thing to have at your club.

"We had a good energy about us and got stronger as the game went on. I thought we deserved the win."

Middlesbrough striker Scott McDonald tapped in Julio Arca's nodded centre from close range to give the hosts a first-half lead. But a deflected Tommy Smith effort levelled matters after the break, and a minute later Tamas Priskin headed home an Edwards cross for the lead.

A glorious strike from substitute Jon Stead then sealed the points against the pre-season title favourites.

Although Lambe had played for the Tractor Boys' first team in a Carling Cup tie against Shewsbury Town last season, he had not featured in a league match before Saturday's visit to Middlesbrough.

He will likely be involved in Ipswich's match at Exeter in the League Cup tomorrow night.

A report on the unofficial Ipswich website, TWTD.co.uk, said that 'Lambe never looked overawed on his league bow'.

Lambe's father, Fred Thompson, told The Royal Gazette, he had not yet spoken to his son about his promising performance but was delighted he had impressed on his league debut.

Bermuda Football Association (BFA) president, Richard Calderon, hopes Lambe's exploits in the UK will inspire young Bermudian players on the Island.

"Clearly we are all very proud of Reggie and what he has accomplished," he said.

"Most top athletes no matter what the sport will almost always state that talent alone is not enough to make it at the top.

"They often point to hard work, discipline and commitment as some of the additional qualities that are required.

"All of these qualities come to mind when we think of Reggie and should be emulated by all of our talented players that have ambitions of becoming professional football players.

"For a small Island we have had our share of talented players, but very few that have made it to the top."

It was former national team coach Kenny Thompson who first alerted Ipswich to Lambe's potential having organised for the gifted youngster to travel to Holland to experience the technical and physical demands of the European game prior to him signing for the East Anglian outfit.

Ipswich Town: Fülöp, Peters, Kennedy (Ainsley 89), Smith, McAuley, Hyam, Leadbitter, Norris, Walters, Edwards (Lambe 64), Priskin. Unused: Murphy, Brown, Healy, Hourihane. Attendance: 21,882 (740 Town).

n Khano Smith played –80 minutes in New England Revolution's 1-0 win over DC United at Gilette Stadium on Saturday.