Town's reserves were defeated 2-1 by the Wimbledon second string at Milton Keynes on Wednesday night.

Following afternoon snow, the pitch was flat and dry and with no sign of the white stuff by the kick-off at 7pm at the MK's very own NHS.

Town started with three centre-backs, Collins on the right, Diallo in the centre and Santos on the left. The two wing-backs helped to pack midfield and the Blues were fronted by Morrow and Bowditch.

Steve McCall was in the dug-out, but there was no sign of BFJ. In the best seats was Dixie Deehan whom it is assumed is still scouting for Town [He's now director of football at Northamton -PH].

Also noticeable was the limp-haired MK entrepreneur Mr Winkelpicker, who has been the driving force behind the Dons being saved by the good folk of north Bucks.

This scribe dutifully made notes all through the game, but looking back on the evening they don't make very good reading, so here are the highlights.

Marshall looked comfortable in goal, but the travelling Town fans were uncomfortable at a rumour that he might be in the first team if local boy Davis is snapped up by West Ham as a replacement for Calamity James.

On the night Town's best player was Stuart Boardley who ran strongly, crossed well with his left foot and got forward to score Town's goal in the second half.

Young Aidan Collins played OK, but Dilly Dally and Sentoff certainly didn't impress, although my notes do mention that Diallo did win a header after 15 mins of the game.

Captain on the night for Town was Abracadabra. The boy has lots of talent but there just isn't an end product. Mitchell looked strong in midfield, but a long way off the first team.

Up front, Deano played as he has for the big boys team, energetic, neat flicks, good running off the ball, but no threat to the goal - perhaps he needs to be given that classic Eric Gates role.

Just before half-time, Marshall came to the edge of his box and headed the ball - well within his area - it was knocked back in, Collins touched it on to their centre-forward who rolled it into an empty net. So, 1-0 to the Dons at the break.

Morrow was totally ineffective, but even so showed a little spirit by thumping a ball against the advertising boards when taken off, Krause replacing him early in the 2nd half, the latter going into a flat back four which released the slinky skills of Sentoff to play up front.

Perhaps if we could merge him with Bam Bam we could make either one good defender or one good forward out of the pair of them!

After about 65 minutes Wimbledon's impressive Danny Morgan picked the ball up in his own half and ran down the left before heading for the penalty spot. He then shot right footed putting the ball beyond the diving Marshall just inside the left post. The lad was no world beater, but looked umpteen times better than our forwards.

Winger Albert Jarrett continued to cause Town trouble and reminded me of Julian Gray from Palace in our last home league game.

Five minutes before the end, Town sent on Flack and Smith for Abidallah and Manning, with Collins and Diallo continuing at the centre of defence.

At the other end the tall, blond central defender Nico Herzig won everything in the air for the Dons and looked sound when either thumping the ball 50 yards or playing the ball out of defence.

So, the final score was 2 -1 and about 25 of the 50 or so Town fans walked silently back towards the town centre and the oasis that is Wetherspoons, to discuss the sad fact that the reserves of our team that might be in the Premiership next season were second best to the reserves of a team that will probably be in Division Two next season.

In summary, the NHS is not a bad little ground, the West Stand used for away fans is totally open to the elements, so let's hope for better weather when the 1st team arrive for their first game in MK later in the year. More importantly let's hope for a better performance.

Town: 1 Andy Marshall, 2 Erkan Okay, 3 Stuart Boardley, 4 Aidan Collins, 5 Drissa Diallo, 6 Georges Santos, 7 Nabil Abidallah, 8 Scott Mitchell, 9 Sam Morrow, 10 Dean Bowditch, 11 Liam Manning. Subs: 12 Daniel Flack, 13 Scott Peat, 14 Liam Craig, 15 Marc Smith, 16 James Krause.
ref: Danny McDermid (Hants)

Report by Elmer Fudd, WABITS (Ipswich Town Supporters Club West Anglia Branch).

Photo: Action Images

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