Report: Nottingham Forest U18s 3-1 Bristol City U18s

Dale Taylor's opener for Forest was cancelled out by Sebastian Palmer-Houlden's composed equaliser, before second half strikes from Esapa Osong and Jack Nadin sealed Forest's place in the fourth round. 

What Happened? 

The Young Robins started brightly at The City Ground as the visitors carved two openings inside the first ten minutes as James Knight-Lebel headed over from William Sage’s dangerous cross, before Dylan Kadji tested Aaron Bott in the Forest net from a free-kick 25-yards out. 

Sebastian Palmer-Houlden’s header then forced Bott into a good save to keep the score level. 

Out of nowhere, Forest bagged the evening’s opener. Esapa Osong picked out Dale Taylor, who cooly finished inside the 18-yard box past Josy Casa-Grande. 

The Young Robins would find an equaliser in the next ten minutes through Palmer-Houlden as the youngster showed great composure to slot the ball past Bott and bring City level. 

Osong was inches away from bagging the hosts’ second goal minutes before the break, however his shot clipped the top of the bar to see the two sides level heading into the changing rooms.

It was a lively start to the second half from both sides as Taylor went close for Forest. City then had shouts for penalty waved away before Dylan Khadji rifled a shot on goal which flashed over the bar. 

Forest then doubled their lead on the hour mark via Osong’s neat finish which forced City to chase an equaliser. 

Palmer-Houlden was still driving his team forward and very nearly bagged his second equaliser of the night, however Bott was down quickly to deny the youngster. 

Jack Nadin snatched a third for Forest against the run of play with ten minutes remaining, as he swept a loose ball into the far corner of the net. 

Brandon Oputeri and Kadji both went close as the Robins’ searched for avenue back into the game but the duo were both denied by a resolute Bott.

TEAM: 

Casa-Grande, Owusu-Smith, Morris, Bell, Nelson, Knight-Lebel, Hutton, Sage, Palmer-Houlden, Lewis, Kadji 

Subs: Richards, Duncan, Brown, Oputeri, Thomas

Pictures

Images courtesy of Nottingham Forrest.