MICHAEL Timlin has familiarised himself with enemy territory ahead of Saturday's promotion clash and already tasted that winning feeling on the battleground.

The Fulham midfielder was part of the Town reserve side which triumphed 2-1 at the Memorial Stadium yesterday afternoon, teeing up a goal in the process.

It was Timlin's first visit to the ground and he was very happy to get 90 minutes under his belt.

Five minutes before the break, he lobbed the ball over Bristol Rovers keeper Mike Green, allowing Lukas Jutkiewicz to head in from virtually on the goalline.

That brought Town the equaliser they richly deserved, having dominated the first half after falling behind to a second minute goal from Joshua Klein-Davies.

Dave Byrne's side played some attractive football in the first half with Ben Wells and Kevin James doing their best to get in a supply of ammunition to Jutkiewicz and Ashley Grimes in attack.

It was Grimes who grabbed Town's winner 10 minutes from time.

Ben Wells latched on to a ball down the left, cushioned it back to the Manchester City man inside the box and he lashed it past Green.

Grimes had sent a header flashing wide in the first half while James saw another goalbound effort pushed away by Green.

The Rovers keeper also denied Patrick Noubissie while Town were left to thank Callum Kennedy at the other end for a goalline clearance five minutes from time.

As for Timlin, he is happy that he's no longer a stranger to the Memorial Stadium.

He said: "My fitness is at a good level but it was a good opportunity for me to top up match fitness and also I've never played here before so I've now got a feel for it.

"Hopefully that can be useful for when we come here again."

Timlin might have had a case for a goal on the day as his first half chip over the keeper looked to be going in.

However, he was not concerned that Jutkiewicz had nodded home.

He said: "If Lukas hadn't been in there who knows?

"It might have gone in but you never know. Lukas did what all good strikers do and put it in."

As for reserve boss Byrne, he had nothing but praise for the contributions of Timlin and the other senior figures given a run out.

He said: "I'll take the same result on Saturday.

"Every one of the boys was spot on and I think that's the best we've played since I came to the club.

"The senior pro's have to take their hats off to each other.

"It gives me something to show the young kids playing alongside them, to say that's the sort of attitude you need to show to take it to the next level."

  • Town: Jon Stewart, Ricky Shakes, Callum Kennedy, Patrick Noubissie (Chris Allen), Scott Doe, Claude Gnapke, Kevin James, Michael Timlin, Lukas Jutkiewicz, Ashley Grimes, Ben Wells.

Rovers: Mike Green, Stuart Nelson, Tom Parrinello, James Palmer, Gary Elphick, Ollie Barnes, Sahr Kabba, Darren Mullings, Joshua Klein-Davies, Dean Nicholson, Cai Jin Yuan (Clough).