In a re-arranged fixture due to the Phoenix pitch being unplayable Forest hosted the Phoenix Boys B team at Barleylands.

Forest Glade took to the park with a full squad to choose from. The boys started well with both Lewis Farrier and James Simpson having good early chances to give the Forest boys an early lead. The Phoenix keeper made two good saves and one smothering save in the early stages. Other shots were off target.

After 20 minutes a good move starting with Charlie Simmons and Jamie Milne with the ball being played through Ryan Seagroatt to Simpson. Simpson slid the perfect through ball for Farrier who was one on one with the keeper. The keeper came out and slid towards the ball. Farrier delicately flicked the ball passed the keeper only to find himself being grabbed around the ankles in a tackle that would have had a certain Mr J. Wilkinson felled at Twickenham. The referee had no option and pointed to the spot for a penalty. Farrier brushed off the mud and took a perfect penalty sending the ball towards the top right side of the goal. 1-0 to the Forest.

The game continued with Forest enjoying the vast majority of the ball. At times the passing and movement of the boys was superb. Several opportunities went begging again with some good keeping and poor finishing. The closest Forest came to adding to the lead was when Simpson hit the crossbar with a long range shot that had the keeper welll and truly beaten. It was half time and the score still one-nil.

Shortly after the break a corner was awarded to Forest. The boys piled forward. Seagroatt took the corner from the right. The ball was partially cleared by a Phoenix defender and Simmons took a shot. The ball was goal bound when one of the defenders stuck out a foot and deflected the ball beyond his stranded keeper. The Dubious goal committee comprising of the two managers and the defender concerned have awarded the goal to Charlie. 2-0

Further pressure followed on the Phoenix goal but efforts from Harry Gadlin, Jimi Bude and Farrier were either saved or hit the woodwork. Phoenix then had there only serious attack of the second half when a through ball caught man of the match Milne a bit flat footed and the Phoenix number 9 latched on to the through ball and struck the ball past Richard Long, giving him no chance. 2-1.

Within 5 minutes the Forest lead was extended to 3-1. A pass out to Sam Lawrence on the right wing, saw him running up the wing before delivering a perfectly weighted diagonal ball, cutting the defence in two, arrive at Simpson’s feet. Running onto the ball, one touch and a powerful shot high into the right corner of the net.

Overall the score flattered Phoenix. The defence as a unit had an excellent game keeping the opportunities for the visitors to a minimum. Jamie Milne was the stand out player of the day and for this he received the MOM award.