Luca Fletcher gave City an early lead after he was played in beautifully by captain Isaiah Dada-Mascoll from distance.
Matty Warhurst doubled City’s lead on 66 minutes after another impressive spell of possession by Ben Wilkinson’s side.
A minute later Forest pulled one back through Adam Berry but City remained un-phased as late goals from Christian Dunbar-McDonald and Matty Henderson-Hall secured all three points and put City back to winning ways in the league.
WHAT HAPPENED
City were handed our first league defeat of the season when we welcomed Forest to the City Football Academy in October. A late brace from former U18s player Alfie Harrison reduced the deficit in our difficult 4-3 loss at home.
And it was clear from kick-off that Ben Wilkinson’s youngsters were looking to make amends from our last encounter with the Reds.
City’s strong, attacking line-up saw us overload the Forest half from kick-off. City dominated play and it didn’t take long to break the deadlock.
A long ball from City’s half by skipper Isaiah Dada-Mascoll put Fletcher through on goal on the left-hand side of the box.
Forest keeper Keehan Willows entered into a foot race with Fletcher but lost as the City forward picked up possession and danced around Willows before Fletcher comfortably slotted the ball into the net to put City ahead on 17 minutes.
The goal was a boost of reassurance for City following our recent 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers as we looked even more fluid after the restart.
A couple of chances went askew for City as we looked to double our advantage as the clock ticked on without any real threat from the hosts.
Forest’s best chance of the first half came in the 40th minute when Evan Boulter’s left-footed effort from inside the box veered away from goal to him and his team-mates disappointment.
The short break clearly gave City a little breather that was needed to help us reenergise.
Wilkinson’s side burst out the blocks and it was Dada-Mascoll who went closest first before Divine Mukasa also had a chance to double City’s lead inside the opening five minutes.
Another clinical set of passes in City’s build-up play resulted in Matty Warhurst doubling our lead on 66 minutes. He expertly dispatched a left-footed effort into the bottom left corner.
A minute later Forest had the ball in the back of the City net in a quick reply to our second. Adam Berry’s strike showed that the hosts could still pose a threat.
But a sublime strike by Christian Dunbar-McDonald put a halt to any optimism the hosts had after the substitute’s goal restored our two-goal lead.
Matty Henderson-Hall turned from provider, when he teed up Warhurst’s goal, to goal scorer himself. His low rocketed shot in the 83rd minute was impossible for Willows to keep out as it confirmed victory for City.
HOW WE LINED UP
Spike Brits was deployed in goal with a back four of Matty Henderson-Hall, Femi Fapetu, Stephen Mfuni and Seb Naylor all tasked with protecting City’s goal.
In the middle of the pitch, Isaiah Dada-Mascoll captained the side with Divine Mukasa and Justin Oboavwoduo either side of the skipper.
Matty Warhurst led the front line with Farid Alfa-Ruprecht on the left wing and Luca Fletcher on the opposite side.
FOREST XI | Willows, Daly, Lister, Adueni (Djamna 76’) Gbopo, Robinson ©, Whitehall (Flanagan 84’), Boulter, Brown, Bradshaw (Berry 54’), Anijsko (Robinson 90’)
UNUSED SUBS | Smith
CITY XI | Brits, Henderson-Hall, Fapetu, Mfuni, Naylor, Dada-Mascoll © (Drake 65’), Fletcher (Nfonkeu 74’), Oboavwoduo, Warhurst (Alcala 90’), Mukasa, Alfa-Ruprecht (Dunbar-McDonald 65’)
UNUSED SUBS | Hudson
WHAT IT MEANS
City remain second, 12 points ahead of Derby County, and 13 points behind leaders Manchester United who have played two games more.
UP NEXT
We welcome Middlesbrough to the City Football Academy for a 12:00 (UK) kick-off on Saturday 20 April.
