BORO's Reserve team kept up the good work as they followed up last week's win over West Brom with another away to Birmingham City last night.

New coach Mark Proctor saw his side move into a two-goal lead before the home side pulled one back shortly before half-time, Boro giving the scoreline a more realistic appearance 14 minutes from time.

The first plum at Damson Park was picked with 20 minutes played.

Two minutes earlier Boro had almost taken the lead when a well-worked free-kick involving Mark Wilson and Gary Smith fell to Allan Johnston, whose superb low shot was saved one-handed by City keeper Ian Bennett.

But there was nothing he could do as Wilson scored from the spot, although no-one was entirely certain why the penalty was awarded.

The visitors went two-up with 38 minutes showing, Jamie Cade scoring his fifth goal in three games when dispatching a low angled drive beyond Bennett's reach.

Despite having played and scored for the Republic of Ireland the night before, Clinton Morrison played for an hour last night, helping set up City's goal four minutes from the break.

He broke away down Boro's right before crossing to Brian Hughes, whose shot deflected of Andrew Davies and over debut 'keeper Carlo Nash.

Excellent work from Craig Dove set up Stewart Downing with a fine chance midway through the second half, but he blasted well over, while Dove himself brought a fine one-handed save from Bennett with 20 minutes remaining.

With 76 minutes played Cade was brought down around six yards outside the Birmingham box and Downing sent the resultant free-kick into the top right-hand corner of the net.

TEAMS

Birmingham City: Bennett; Vaughan, Painter, Cisse (Sheppard), Courtney, Arrowsmith, Till (Motteram 69), Kirovski, Morrison (Barrowman 59), Hughes, Carter.

Boro: Nash; Close, Taylor (Masters 86), Gulliver, Davies, Smith, Johnston, Wilson, Cade (Graham 86), Dove (Nordgren 86), Downing. Unused subs: Roberts (gk); McMahon.

Click here to go to the Reserves section of the site.