AFC Telford 1 v 4 Nottingham Forest
Thu 24 Jul 2008
A young Forest side eased to victory at non-league Telford thanks to a strong first-half performance.
The Reds led 3-0 at the break, thanks to goals from Matt Thornhill, Garath McCleary - his second in two pre-season matches - and Adam Newbold.
And although the second-half performance was not as dominant, it was a solid show which bodes well for the forthcoming season.
The game started at a quick tempo, with both teams playing it around well, but it was Forest who drew first blood, taking the lead after just seven minutes. Chris Cohen's ball over the top was touched back by McCleary to the onrushing Thornhill, who guided his volley into the corner, beyond the diving Ryan Young.
And Forest had a chance to make it 2-0 four minutes later, but Ryan Whitehurst saw his stinging shot parried away by Young.
However, the Reds did not have it all their own way, and Telford came close to an equaliser.
Forest struggled to deal with Martyn Naylor's right-wing cross and captain Ian Breckin could only turn the ball onto the bar from a yard out, under pressure from Andy Brown, although the flag was already up for offside.
Forest doubled their lead after 20 minutes.
Young pulled off a smart save from Emile Sinclair, but Whitehurst retrieved the ball on the right and crossed perfectly to the far post for McCleary to head home from close range.
Telford came close when Cohen was dispossessed in midfield by Liam Blakeman.
He released Lee Moore, but Moore could only drag his shot across Dale Roberts and wide of the far post.
Striker Adam Newbold grabbed Forest's third after 37 minutes.
Cohen's effort was blocked, but it fell kindly to Newbold to guide into the corner, to the youngster's obvious delight. As the half came to a close, Telford hit the woodwork for a second time, Andy Brown's header hitting the top of the bar after he outjumped Roberts to reach Moore's cross.
Telford stepped up their performance in the second half, denying Forest some of the time and space they had enjoyed on the ball in the opening 45 minutes, but some good football saw Forest grab their fourth.
Whitehurst and Luke Chambers exchanged passes before Whitehurst laid the ball into Sinclair.
The striker showed excellent strength to hold off two defenders and turn, before shooting low into the corner.
The game became more pedestrian as both sides made multiple substitutions, although Newbold was unlucky not to grab a second when his shot was cleared off the line.
Cohen released Sinclair down the left wing and his cut-back was met by Newbold, but two Telford defenders combined to block his shot on the goalline.
Telford grabbed a deserved goal back with 10 minutes to go, with the goal of the game, but it was no more than a consolation.
Tom Sharpe rose well to head the cross clear, but it fell nicely for Naylor to send a fierce half-volley into the roof of the net from just outside the box.
AFC Telford United: Young, Naylor (Hartlebury 81 mins), Jagielka, Cowan (Gregory 81 mins), Whitehead (capt), Rodgers (Khela 59 mins), Nwadike, Vermiglio, Brown, Moore (Fearns 62 mins) Blakeman (Adams 62 mins).
Forest: Roberts, Chambers, Reid, Breckin (capt) (Bencherif 61 mins), Wilson (Sharpe 61 mins), Cohen (Hook 70 mins), Thornhill, McCleary (Staples 78 mins), Whitehurst (Byrne 78 mins), Newbold, Sinclair.
Sub not used: Redmond
Referee: Steve Dorr
Attendance: 1,441.
The Reds led 3-0 at the break, thanks to goals from Matt Thornhill, Garath McCleary - his second in two pre-season matches - and Adam Newbold.
And although the second-half performance was not as dominant, it was a solid show which bodes well for the forthcoming season.
The game started at a quick tempo, with both teams playing it around well, but it was Forest who drew first blood, taking the lead after just seven minutes. Chris Cohen's ball over the top was touched back by McCleary to the onrushing Thornhill, who guided his volley into the corner, beyond the diving Ryan Young.
And Forest had a chance to make it 2-0 four minutes later, but Ryan Whitehurst saw his stinging shot parried away by Young.
However, the Reds did not have it all their own way, and Telford came close to an equaliser.
Forest struggled to deal with Martyn Naylor's right-wing cross and captain Ian Breckin could only turn the ball onto the bar from a yard out, under pressure from Andy Brown, although the flag was already up for offside.
Forest doubled their lead after 20 minutes.
Young pulled off a smart save from Emile Sinclair, but Whitehurst retrieved the ball on the right and crossed perfectly to the far post for McCleary to head home from close range.
Telford came close when Cohen was dispossessed in midfield by Liam Blakeman.
He released Lee Moore, but Moore could only drag his shot across Dale Roberts and wide of the far post.
Striker Adam Newbold grabbed Forest's third after 37 minutes.
Cohen's effort was blocked, but it fell kindly to Newbold to guide into the corner, to the youngster's obvious delight. As the half came to a close, Telford hit the woodwork for a second time, Andy Brown's header hitting the top of the bar after he outjumped Roberts to reach Moore's cross.
Telford stepped up their performance in the second half, denying Forest some of the time and space they had enjoyed on the ball in the opening 45 minutes, but some good football saw Forest grab their fourth.
Whitehurst and Luke Chambers exchanged passes before Whitehurst laid the ball into Sinclair.
The striker showed excellent strength to hold off two defenders and turn, before shooting low into the corner.
The game became more pedestrian as both sides made multiple substitutions, although Newbold was unlucky not to grab a second when his shot was cleared off the line.
Cohen released Sinclair down the left wing and his cut-back was met by Newbold, but two Telford defenders combined to block his shot on the goalline.
Telford grabbed a deserved goal back with 10 minutes to go, with the goal of the game, but it was no more than a consolation.
Tom Sharpe rose well to head the cross clear, but it fell nicely for Naylor to send a fierce half-volley into the roof of the net from just outside the box.
AFC Telford United: Young, Naylor (Hartlebury 81 mins), Jagielka, Cowan (Gregory 81 mins), Whitehead (capt), Rodgers (Khela 59 mins), Nwadike, Vermiglio, Brown, Moore (Fearns 62 mins) Blakeman (Adams 62 mins).
Forest: Roberts, Chambers, Reid, Breckin (capt) (Bencherif 61 mins), Wilson (Sharpe 61 mins), Cohen (Hook 70 mins), Thornhill, McCleary (Staples 78 mins), Whitehurst (Byrne 78 mins), Newbold, Sinclair.
Sub not used: Redmond
Referee: Steve Dorr
Attendance: 1,441.
