- Under 18s overcome league leaders 2-1
- Esapa Osong’s second-half strike proves to be the difference
The Reds hosted league leaders Manchester City on a sunny day in Nottingham as Warren Joyce’s side looked to build on the 4-4 draw against Leeds United last time out in the U18 Premier League.
City started strongly as Dan Ogwuru threatened the home net before Kyle McAdam and Zach Abbott made vital interceptions and clearances to keep the visitors at bay.
Shortly after, Forest stamped their authority on the game and took the lead through an own-goal after Dale Taylor’s drilled delivery across the six-yard box was bundled home by a blue shirt.
A deserved lead for the hosts, who then continued to build momentum and threaten to double their lead against a City side who had conceded just 19 goals heading into today’s fixture.
Taylor was slipped through on goal and brought down inside the box just before the 20-minute mark, leaving the referee no choice but to award The Reds a spot-kick.
The Northern Irish U21 international stepped up and saw his effort saved by George Murray-Jones between the sticks, who got down impressively to his right-hand side.
Just ten minutes later, the visitors struck back as Ogwuru found the back of the net following a ricocheted clearance in the Forest box and levelled the score at 1-1.
City came close to taking the lead just before half-time but an excellent block from Jamie McDonnell sliding across goal prevented the visitors taking the lead.
HALF-TIME: Forest U18s 1-1 Manchester City U18s
The Reds wasted absolutely no time in getting started as Esapa Osong fired his side back into the lead just six minutes after the restart.
Intense pressure from the Forest frontline forced City into a misplaced pass and gifted the chance to Osong to find the back of the net.
Murray-Jones managed to keep the scoreline down with an excellent save after Pharrell Johnson was released with just the ‘keeper to beat.
It took the visitors almost half an hour into the second period to record a chance, but impressive saves from Forest ‘keeper Aaron Bott preserved the hosts’ lead.
Ben Wilkinson’s side saw multiple chances to equalise go to waste in the last ten minutes, with Forest mounting a red wall at the back and seeing the game out for a deserved three points.
The Reds are now unbeaten in their last four encounters across all competitions and look to continue their impressive form in another Premier League clash against Middlesbrough next week.
FULL-TIME: Forest U18s 2-1 Manchester City U18s
Starting XI (4-4-2): Aaron Bott; Zach Abbott, Jamie McDonnell ©, Ben Hammond (Jack Perkins 76’), Kyle McAdam; Pharrell Johnson, Josh Powell, Sam Collins (Jack Thompson 81’), Jack Nadin; Dale Taylor, Esapa Osong
Substitutes not used: Alex Akers, Aaron Jay Korpal, Lewis Barker