Substitute Richard Naylor returned after his injury and was central to Town's reserves gaining a 4-2 victory over Wimbledon at Portman Road this evening.

Town fell behind on the half hour when Stuart Niven played through a bad backpass for Paul Robinson who ran in on Salmon and neatly placed the ball past the Town third choice keeper. This wasn't the only time that Niven gave the ball away on the night in dangerous situations and long-term reserve match attendees will remember a similar goal from Wimbledon reserves against Town when Niven put Carl Cort through a few years back. Currently on a month to month contract Niven's Town future may well be very limited from here on in.

Town were playing much the same as they did in the game against Leicester in their first home game of the season: not very well indeed.

Eventually, however Town began to get going, Neil Midgley hit the post, but it wasn't until a few seconds before the break that Town got level. A freekick was knocked into the area where it was headed down and Martijn Reuser volleyed home.

The second half saw the return of Richard Naylor for his first appearance since that afternoon in May. He replaced Neil Midgley while Sean Friars came on for Nabil Abidallah. As usual the 'New Kieron' showed some nice touches but never really got into the game. Town also reverted to 4-4-2 from their more usual 5-3-2, a precursor of things to come for the first team? Ashley Nicholls, who had been at right back moved to central midfield while Justin Miller moved to right back.

Naylor made an immediate impact, as usual linking up well with Reuser.

However, it was Nicholls who put Town ahead when he neatly lined himself up and hit home from six yards after a long Justin Miller throw-in was nodded on by Richard Logan after 68 minutes.

Town went further ahead when a superb interchange from Naylor and Reuser saw the Dutchman one-on-one with Ian Feuer in the Wimbledon goal. The Dutchman found the net with ease as Town began to look much the better side.

The fourth came when Naylor ran at the defence before lining the ball up for Logan who hammered home.

Wimbledon pulled one back late on when a poor freekick on halfway from Reuser ended up with a Wimbledon one-on-one where Salmon was easily beaten.

A much better performance in the second half from the reserves, but the evening really belonged to one man: Richard Naylor. He needs more games, but he could well have a big part to play in Town's season.

Town team: Salmon, Nicholls, Croft, Scales, Mowbray (Moffat 75), J Miller, Abidallah (Friars 46), Niven, Logan, Midgley (Naylor 46), Reuser.

Photo: Action Images

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