Town's reserves continued their march to the FA Premier Reserve League (South) championship with a hard-fought 4-2 win away at Southampton. A massive reserves crowd of 6,389 saw the game after the Saints gave large numbers of tickets to local schools.

Town went behind within the first minute as Eric Hassli put the home side in front. However, Ulrich Le Pen got Town back on terms five minutes later, shooting home from ten yards.

The Blues put on the pressure and Darren Ambrose headed Town's second on 18. Eight minutes later the game was level when Town's South African defender Justin Miller deflected a Scott McDonald shot into his own net.

After Darren Bent had uncharacteristically missed a number of chances, it was house-mate Darren Ambrose who was to put the Blues in front. He hit a shot from ten yards in off the post.

But Bent was not to be denied his 19th reserve goal of the season and with four minutes left on the clock he latched on to a poor pass from Byles and ran on to beat Moss and score Town's fourth.

Arsenal went top of the league after a 2-1 win over Wimbledon tonight while Town are now equal on points with Derby who play Nottingham Forest at Pride Park tomorrow night. The Blues have a superior goal difference to both and a game in hand over Derby and three over the Gunners.

Town side: Salmon, Snowdon, Richards (Artun 80), Bloomfield, J Miller, Gaardsøe, Ambrose, Nicholls, Logan (Abidallah 69), D Bent, Le Pen. Unused subs: Robinson, Price, Beevers.

Photo: Action Images

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