For this fixture there were a few positional changes made in an attempt to try and freshen the team up and offer some attacking alternatives. Grant Cumming started the game at right back with a mandate to attack when possible.

Hartswood had collected only 1 point from their previous 5 league games and Forest went into this game as favourites for once. But the opening to this game saw Hartswood grab the initiative. Hartswood passed the ball well in the midfield but could not break down the Forest defence. The Hartswood attacks did, however, force a couple of corners which were cleared well.

Gradually Forest began to play some football. Danny Barker and Jack Eldridge combined well up front and Danny kept on bringing the midfield players into the game with his lay-offs. All that was lacking was the final pass which generally was more kick and hope than measured.

In the 15^th minute Danny Barker was released again down the left, however Danny’s pace never took him away from the defenders and he was forced wide on the left. This, however, didn’t stop him from shooting. The cross shot should have been easily saved by the keeper but the ball bobbled past him. The ball ran along the 6-yard box, David Keen ran onto the loose ball and from 6-yards out had an easy unchallenged tap in for the lead.

Andre Kotov was introduced to replace Jack Eldridge and his extra pace added a more dangerous nature to the Forest attack. Within minutes of his introduction he was released down the left, as he approached the keeper he delayed shooting as he attempted to shift the ball onto his favoured right foot. This enabled the Hartswood defender to be able to make a challenge and knock the ball away for a corner.

Andre’s pace continued to trouble the Hartswood defence and offered an easy outlet for the Forest team. Whilst Andre failed to get any shots on goal his chasing down now caused some defensive slips and led to a corner in the 27^th minute. The ball was centred by Jack Hawthorn and only partially cleared by the Hawthorn defence. The ball fell to Lewis White who hooked the ball over the Hartswood keeper and defence from 10 yards out and into the net to double the lead.

The 2^nd goal proved decisive as Hartswood’s heads dropped. For the rest of the half Forest had most of the play but lacked the composure to create any meaningful chances.

Within minutes of the start of the 2^nd half Forest created the killer punch to the game. Alex Chapman played a ball from the right behind the Hartswood defence and into the path of Andre Kotov. The keeper rushed out and managed to block Andrey’s initial shot but the ball rebounded off of Andrey and he was able to run the ball in easily to seal the game.

The game was effectively dead and Forest eased off and allowed Hartswood to have more of the ball. However the Forest defence did not allow Hartswood to get close to the Forest goal and although Forest were losing the battle in midfield the possession proved meaningless. Forest’s were not as effective as they should have been but the attack always looked dangerous if the ball was played through meaningfully. Jack Eldridge offered a more subtle approach to the attack but it has to be said was well defended by Hartswood.

Forest’s defence dominated the rest of the game and limited the Hartswood play to 40 yards from the Forest goal. Stuart Thorn and Greg Fedden in particular were outstanding in breaking the play up.  

Forest’s defence won this game as they limited the Hartswood team to just one shot on goal. The Forest team did not play as well as they can but the strong defence meant that chances could be wasted and possession given away just this once.