Ipswich Reserves 0 Wimbledon Reserves 1IPSWICH Town fielded surely their least experienced reserve side ever.And they were unable to stop Wimbledon taking the FA Barclaycard Premier Reserve League points at Portman Road last night.

By Elvin King

Ipswich Reserves 0 Wimbledon Reserves 1

IPSWICH Town fielded surely their least experienced reserve side ever.

And they were unable to stop Wimbledon taking the FA Barclaycard Premier Reserve League points at Portman Road last night.

Only skipper Nabil Abidallah was out of his teens – with a number of 16-year-olds in the squad.

Dutchman Abidallah and striker Sam Morrow were the only two with first team appearances under their belt, very limited ones with the latter coming on as a second half substitute at Notts County on Tuesday.

Town's resources, hit at first team level, were stretched ever further by an ankle injury for Antonio Murray, a suspension for Aidan Collins and an England Under-19 trip to Russia for Chris Hogg.

Wimbledon, beaten 4-1 in the First Division at Portman Road on Saturday and including Malvin Kamara again at right back, also lacked experience.

Subsequently, it was a learning experience for both sides and they cancelled each other out.

There was little goalmouth action with Lewis Price making two saves, the second from Scott McDonald in the 82nd minute being superb.

The other was in a rather drab first period when Ipswich knocked the ball around well in midfield at times without manufacturing a telling final ball.

Gerald Nash, handed the captaincy when Abidallah was substituted, and Scott Mitchell did their growing reputations no harm at the heart of the Town defence.

But it was harsh to be critical on players more used to Under-19 and Under-17 football than this level.

The game was won in the 67th minute when Jason Puncheon supplied a skill level rather out of keeping with the general content of the game. He received a pass in space after Wimbledon had worked their way in from the right touchline.

Puncheon had time to draw back his left foot and drive an impressive 20-yard shot across a diving Price and into the far corner of the goal.

Game, set and match to Wimbledon, and a win to get their switch to Milton Keynes off on the right foot.

Ipswich Town: Price, Synnott, Krause, Okay, Mitchell, Nash, Abidallah (sub Flack 74 mins), Atay (Craig 84), Morrow, Reid (Barron 58), Robinson. Subs: Supple, Lorden.

Wimbledon: Worgan, Kamara, Lewington (Crooks 74), Oyedele, Herzig, Chorley, Small (Deacons 46), Harding, McDonald, Gray (Mackie 33), Puncheon. Subs: Martin, E'Beyer.

Referee: Mr S Rubery.

Attendance: 351.