Harriers' quest for a first Worthington Cup win continues after they were convincingly
beaten by an excellent Forest team at The City Ground.
Forest put injury-hit Harriers under pressure form the start, Harriers' three-man defence
constantly stretched, first by Matthieu Louis-Jean and then the lively David Johnson
on the wing. The home team nearly took the lead as early as the seventh minute
when Riccardo Scimeca curled a free-kick over the wall and off Stuart Brock's left-hand
post. The same player was close on two other early occasions hitting another free
kick over the bar and having a shot saved by Brock.
At the other end Andy Ducros and Bo Henriksen combined well on the right after 18 minutes to
set up Ian Foster but he failed to hit the target with his shot.
After Harriers appeared to have weathered the early storm Forest took a fortunate lead.
James Brennan crossed from the left, Brock came a long way to claim it but was nowhere
near it and Jack Lester nipped in to head past him.
Forest seemed able to create chances almost at will, Craig Westcarr wasted a hat-trick of
opportunities and Lester forced a save from Brock. In the last minute of the
half Forest grabbed the crucial second, Johnson appeared to foul Sean Flynn on the right
and while Flynn was protesting Johnson got away and crossed to the far post to the waiting
Scimeca who volleyed powerfully past Brock.
The game was effectively ended as a contest five minutes after the interval, Westcarr broke
free on the left and crossed to the far post where Johnson headed in despite the
efforts of Lee Ayres on the line. Harriers' heads dropped and Forest were able to
knock the ball around as if it were a training session always looking cpable of stepping
up a gear if needed.
On the hour mark Harriers managed their first shot on target, a 20-yard effort from Sean
Parrish which he hit straight at Darren Ward. Forest were still creating chance
after chance, Lester and Westcarr brought saves from Brock and with 20 minutes remaining
found the net for a fourth time. Sean Parrish was adjudged to have fouled
Eugen Bopp and Lester struck home the penalty just beyond the dive of Brock.
Harriers can have no complaints about the fact that they were beaten by a far superior side
that cost £8million to put together, nor really about the scoreline although the first
goal was a soft one to give away and the fourth was a needless penalty, but they will
be disappointed with the way in which the level of performance dropped in the second
half. In the first half they played some good football which will almost certainly
reap rewards should they repeat it in the Third Division, but if they continue to produce
performances such as that in the latter stages of the game they will struggle.
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