Town's reserves redeemed themselves after Wednesday's 6-3 defeat to Charlton with a thoroughly professional win over Nottingham Forest. Town left out Gary Croft, Richard Naylor and Mark Burchill from Wednesday's team while Forst included Town old boy Tony Vaughan.

Town's first effort was an Abidallah shot saved bt Collis in the Forest goal. The Dutchman, who was playing up front with Richard Logan had another go a few minutes later but shot well over.

In the fifteenth minute Ashley Nicholls put Town one up. Richard Logan hit a shot which Collis couldn't hold and Nicholls was on hand for the rebound.

At the other end Dean Green came closest when he hit the post as he used his strength to run through. The ball rebounded and was crossed back in but there was no further danger to Town.

After 30 minutes the sprinkler at the North Stand end came on amusing Mike Salmon who pulled his shirt over his head for protection as the spray swung round towards him. Play was held up while a groundsman was called for. The same thing happened a couple of years ago in a First Division match with Richard Wright then getting soaked.

After the torrent had been stopped Justin Miller added a second. A cross came from deep and the South African had an easy job to toe the ball home from a few yards out.

For Forest Leroy Griffiths put the ball wide when there were perhaps better options, while for Town Abidallah was almost put through by Logan.

Just before half-time Nabil Abidallah ran goalwards and looped the ball over the keeper's head but Louis-Jean got back and cleared it off the line. The Frenchman had difficulties extricating himself from the new hexagonal netting but did eventuually manage it.

Amir Karic, playing in a more advanced role as usual looked a better player when given less defensive duties. As the referee was looking at his watch he met a ball at the far post which had evaded all Forest defenders and hit the ball back across Collis in goal. The keeper was equal to it and the sides went in at half time with the score still 2-0.

No changes at half-time for Town or Forest. Early on Andy Reid had a shot well-saved by Salmon before Friars had an effort cleared off the line as Forest again had problems from a corner. Wayne Brown hit a shot which hit the scoreboard as the ball came out.

A few minutes later keeper Collis allowed a Logan shot go right through him and into the net. It was a bad error, but he atoned for it a few minutes later when made a fantastic save from Abidallah who had had the ball laid back by Karic.

Andy Reid was peppering Mike Salmon with shots but the veteran keeper was equal to them and was playing well. Reid became one of two Forest players booked within a minute when he appeared to speak to Mr Thorpe out of turn. The other yellow card went to Sinclair for a foul.

Ashley Nicholls almost had his second when he got on to the end of a Mark Mayes cross from the right. The ball was an excellent one from the youngster and there were players queueing up to head it home. Nicholls could have done better.

Richard Logan scored his second and Town's fourth after Erdum Artun played the ball into Nicholls on the edge of the area to the right. Nicholls played the ball first time on the turn and Logan took his time and slotted the ball past Collis.

Reid hit another shot, this time wide, before Town swapped Karic for Chibogu with Abidallah moving back into the midfield.

Allou missed a good chance for Forest when he hammered the ball into the South Stand when he should have done better. Town brought on Snowdon for Miller and Reid hit another shot wide.

Louis-Jean was booked for a very late tackle on Logan before Mark Mayes came close to adding a fifth but his shot hit Vaughan and went to safety.

Team: Salmon, Artun, Karic (Chibogu), Miller (Snowdon), Moffat, Brown, Mayes, Nicholls, Logan, Abidallah, Friars. Unused subs: Pullen, Subrin, Duncan.

Photo: Action Images

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