Away

2

1

2/3rds towards perfection.

Initially it looked like Forest were going to start the game poorly again as the kick-off to the game saw Greg Fedden take a poor first touch and allow the Danes striker to step in and take a shot. Fortunately Elliott Thwaites saved easily.

That didn't stop Great Danes from having some chances. These were however created more by Forest's defensive mistakes than Great Danes prowess. On the 8th minute, Forest tried to play the ball out of defense only to lose the ball just outside their own goal area. The looping shot had Elliott beaten but bounced on the top of the crossbar and over for a goal kick..

Forest pushed on but failed to create any clear cut chances. Tom Barley was dominating the midfield winning the ball and taking shots from distance that had the keeper scrambling if not totally troubled.

The 2nd half saw Forest continue to dominate the play from midfield. However the Forest central defenders continued to show some surprising frailty. On the 48th minute, Paul O'Brien scuffed a clearance from his own area. For the first time in the game Tom and Jack held back and gave the Great Danes midfielder time to bring the ball down and hit a looping shot towards goal. Elliott was caught flat footed and the ball went over his head into the net. This was an undeserved lead for Great Danes but going behind in a game is becoming far too familiar for the Forest players.

Forest upped their game. The midfield now took complete control driving forward when they won possession and releasing the wide Forest strikers to attack the goal. Chance after chance was created but the Great Danes goal had a charmed life.

Eventually in the 57th minute Forest finally drew level. It was  a simple move when Tom Barley sent a pass across the pitch for Jack Hawthorn to run onto. The keeper dived at Jack's feet but spilt the ball. Jack kept his composure and simply laid the ball across the goal to Grant. It seemed an easy chance to put away but Grant completely mis-hit his shot. Fortunately his shot still went goal bound and despite some desperate attempts to clear it bounced off of the post and into the net. Forest's luck had appeared to change.

More chances came Forest's way as they dominated the game. Jack Hawthorn went close twice with free kicks. The first just needing a touch as he drilled the ball towards the far post, and the second saw his effort only just miss the goal at the keepers near post.

On the 70th minute the midfield domination showed again as Jack Douglas won the ball in his own half. He looked up and played a perfect pass into the path of Jack Hawthorn. Jack took one touch and crossed from the bye line to the near post where Grant challenged, won and pushed the ball into the net for the lead. A near perfect goal.

Forest were dominating the game but couldn't kill the game off. They came close when Josh Ojera won the ball well at the half way line. From right back he strode forward with confidence. Asa Dengel pointed to where he wanted the ball, inside the left back, and Josh obliged with a wonderful pass. Just as it seemed Asa was about to score a wonderful goal one of the Great Danes central defenders made a superb tackle.

The last 10 minutes, whilst dominated by Forest, still had some nervous moments due to some poor defensive work by the previously solid central defensive partnership of Tom and Greg. Forest escaped for the first time when Paul completely missed his clearance and the ball travelled to two Great Danes players. Luckily they had been in an offside position.

With just 2 minutes to go, Great Danes played a hopeful ball forward. It looked a simple clearance for Greg Fedden to clear but he took an air clearance and the ball found its way through to the Great Danes striker. As he moved on goal Elliott made himself look big, and the shot was straight at Elliott. Although the ball bounced back to the striker Forest managed to get enough players behind the ball for his second shot to go safely pass the far post. It was a good save by Elliott that meant Forest won the 3 points. 

Forest have now won 4 games on the trot and are playing with confidence. It is becoming increasingly difficult to pick the team. Josh Ojera was again outstanding at right-back. Grant Cumming scored two strikers goals but also worked incredibly hard for the team. Jack Douglas, has to grow in confidence, he looked outstanding again today and can be the dominant player inside the team. But the best player by far today was Tom Barley. He has the ability to do the simple play so well and when he did so Forest really ticked as a team. He therefore deservedly won the Man-of-the-Match award.