MARTIJN Reuser showed he is ready to help Ipswich Town in their crucial final promotion push by completing 90 minutes for the reserves last night.

MARTIJN Reuser showed he is ready to help Ipswich Town in their crucial final promotion push by completing 90 minutes for the reserves last night, writes Derek Davis.

Although Town lost 2-0 at West Ham, Reuser showed glimpses of the impact he can make with a trademark free-kick which hit a goal stanchion and some classy passing when he dropped back into midfield in the first half after starting up front alongside Alun Armstrong.

The Dutchman, who has been a Town hero coming off the bench so many times in the past, is fully recovered from a knee injury which has kept him out of action recently.

He said: "I feel good. At this stage of the season the fitness level stays high so I'm ready to play my part in the final seven league games to get in the play-offs. It was a difficult game on that pitch and against quality opposition."

The high standard of opposition helped provide a stern test for the likes of Alun Armstrong, Drissa Diallo, Georges Santos and Scott Mitchell, who are also looking to force their way into Joe Royle's starting side.

In an intriguing game with plenty of quality players on show but played on a dry, bumpy pitch, neither side could find a breakthrough until the Hammers won a 76th-minute penalty.

Aidan Collins handled a Steve Lomas free-kick and West Ham youth product Chris Cohen sent Lewis Price the wrong way.

The second goal, seven minutes later, stemmed from a long Pavel Srnicek clerance which Don Hutchison laid into the path of Stepehen Gillespie to finish from eight yards.

Stuart Boardley was not far away with an 18-yard shot and Alun Armstrong's shot on the turn in the dying minutes went wide, otherwise Srnicek was not under much pressure in the first half.

Price made a point-blank save from a Hutchison header and denied Gillespie, who tried a long shot. The young Hammers' striker was not far away in time added on with a well-struck left-foot shot.

Former Scotland international Hutchison clipped the crossbar with a 30-yard volley while Sebastien Carole volleyed over the bar.

Teams

West Ham Reserves: Srnicek, McClenahan, Cohen, Mullins, Lumsden, Blewitt, McAnuff (Bunce, 58) Lomas, Hutchison, Gillespie and Carole. Subs not used: Parmington, Tattam, Stokes and Forde.

Ipswich Town Reserves: Price, Mitchell, Barron, Santos, Collins, Diallo, Flack (Craig, 64) Kamara (Atay, 76) Armstrong, Reuser and Boardley. Subs not used: Sobers, Patten and Supple.

Referee: S Tomlinson.

Attendance: 150