Town reserves ran out easy winners over Chelsea with goals from Wayne Brown and newcomer Matt Bloomfield. Trialist Jermaine Wright never appeared presumably due to some work permit related reason on a night when Chelsea showed very little.
Town went ahead inside five minutes when Wayne Brown converted a cross from the right. Brown was playing in central defence with Justin Miller who wore the captain's armband. John Scales played in central midfield.
Town held on to their lead and had most of the play despite not creating too many clearcut chances. Chelsea had few of their stars on display. Ed De Goey was in goal and Bernard Lambourne was at right back but there was no Graeme Le Saux and most of the rest of the side were youngsters.
Town started the second half very brightly and created three excellent chances within the first five minutes. First Richard Naylor was set through one-on-one with De Goey, but the returning striker got himself in a a bit of a mess and hit the ball at the keeper's legs.
A minute or so later Neil Midgley was out through on the right. The sub striker's chance wasn't as clear as Naylor's, but he still could have done better than the shot he hit wide of the post.
Next Matt Bloomfield made a tremendous run from midfield and got on to a ball from the left. He ran in on De Goey and slipped the ball past the keeper. An excellent goal from a player playing only his second reserve game.
Town dominated most of the rest of the half with Keith Branagan in goal only really being called into action in the last few minutes when he made two good saves.
Town won the game well without being spectacularly good. Senior players like Richard Naylor and Martijn Reuser (who was booked) had quiet games while youngsters like Justin Miller had a good first half (subbed at half-time), Nabil Abidallah made some excellent runs and Matt Bloomfield showed some good touches and took his goal well.
Town team: Branagan, Croft, Karic, Miller (Bloomfield 46), Brown, Scales, Abidallah, Nicholls, Logan (Midgley 46), Naylor, Reuser (Artun).
Sunderland beat Palace 4-2 after extra time and therefore Town meet Peter Reid's side in the fourth round of the FA Cup. The tie will be played at the Stadium of Light on January 27th.
David Sheepshanks has spoken out about FIFA's latest plans for reform of the transfer system. The current system contravenes EU rules and discussions involving FIFA, UEFA and the EU have been going on for months.
FIFA's latest plans which allow players to give clubs just three months notice before leaving them have caused a rift between the European organisation and the world body. Sheepshanks descibed this plan as "absurd", a sentiment that many in the English game are echoing.