JUNIOR MENDES bagged a morale-boosting double on his return from injury to help the Reserves maintain their title challenge.

The 28-year-old, who has been out suffering a groin injury, netted on 27 and 32 minutes to put Town ahead after Tommy Hannigan had given County a 17th-minute lead.

It was John McAliskey who then stole the show, bagging a richly-deserved 65th-minute header to ensure the points as Town dominated the rest of the game.

Manager Peter Jackson - who watched from the tunnel - reckons he is constantly asked about McAliskey's progress by other managers and, on yesterday's display at the Galpharm, it's hardly a surprise.

Having been capped by the Republic of Ireland Under 21s, McAliskey showed all the confidence and appetite which seemed to have drained from him at one stage this season.

His running off the ball caught the eye, his willingess to `show' for the ball and his excellent close skills always kept County on their toes and, on this form, he is going to push Pawel Abbott, Delroy Facey, Andy Booth and Mendes all the way for selection.

In addition to the win, Town were delighted that Mendes played 72 minutes without problem and that club captain Rob Edwards - out since clashing with David Mirfin at MK Dons - played for 66 minutes to indicate his recovery from a painful right leg injury.

Edwards played the first half in midfield, reverting to left-back when Town switched from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 from half time - Steve Yates taking up an unfamiliar role in the centre of midfield alongside Lee Fowler.

Despite fielding a much older and experienced side than the first team, Town started incredibly slowly.

Only a smart goalline block from Yates prevented Shaun Harrod from scoring after a break by Luke Townsend but, from the resulting corner, terrible marking was punished when Hannigan scored with a close range header, after Tony Scully's flag-kick had gone right across the six-yard box unchecked.

That sparked Town into some sort of life, although Mendes' equaliser came from a 20-yard snap shot which went in with the aid of a deflection.

His second, only five minutes later, was much more emphatic and was drilled past keeper Rob Elliot from an angle after a flick to the back post by McAliskey.

McAliskey, who might have scored before half time, brought warm applause from a frozen crowd with a brilliant through ball to Danny Schofield on the hour and, three minutes later, he had the visitors' defence on edge again with a cracking drive into the side netting.

His goal followed soon afterwards and reflected his growing confidence in the air - nodding the ball home from six yards when under heavy pressure from an Edwards corner.

Nat Brown had a couple of chances to get his name on the scoresheet after that while substitute James Hand went close with a volley, but the victory was comfortable enough in any case.

Town - Senior, Brown, Lloyd, McCombe, Yates, E Sodje, Schofield, Fowler, McAliskey, Mendes (Hardy 72), Edwards (Hand 66). Subs not used: Giles, Young Caulfield.