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Elmwood Feel the Forest Fire

Forest produced a performance of fire and determination on Sunday as the team kept alive their chances of winning the division with a battling performance. Ravaged by injuries, the squad was down to 12 so the task of visiting the league leaders and getting a result was always going to be tough.

Glade started well, playing their passing game and creating two early chances. The impressive Charlie Croton linking well with the skillful David Cooper down the right was the main threat in the opening minutes.

Then disaster, a soft goal was conceded when a bobble threw keeper Marcus Parsons totally and the ball rolled over the line to give Elmwood and undeserved lead. Instead of crumbling the ever reliable Parsons picked himself up and showed what a top keeper he is with a string of brave saves and superb handling from then on in.

Forest hit back just before the break when the dangerous Jimmy Jones, who had already seen one shot fly just over, struck a volley from a clearence fro 1-1. Forest's tails were now up and the second half produced more great football from the team with monster commitment as well.

The lads pushed for the winner, Ben Harrison replaced Steven Bourner and had an immediate effect in shoring up the midfield. The team knew they had to be on their guard however, Nick Good, Peter Wild, James Adams and man of the match Charlie Croton stood tall and firm in defence, with keeper Parsons backing them up

With five minutes to go, Forest enjoyed their strongest spell of the half, with the impressive Jonathan Diment displaying a lovely range of passing. Rhys Hooper went close with a header after a great run by Apple Adams and in the last minute the marauding David Cooper beat three players down the left and fired a shot against the bar !!

It would have been a heartbreaker for Elmwood if it had gone in, oh how I wish it did. The return next week at Barleylands will be a cracker, come on the Glade!!!!

Squad:

Parsons, Good, Croton, Wild, Adams, Cooper, O'Shea, Jones, Diment, Bourner, Hooper Harrison