The Blues youngsters came through a hard game with Nottingham Forest to reach the FA Youth Cup semi-final Tpwn went ahead early on then conceded a goal on the stroke of half-time. An excellent second half goal from Darren bent won the game for Town

Town went into a surprise lead after seven minutes of this delayed kick-off game. With Darren Bent coming back from an offside position Steve Burton stole beyond a static defence and beat the keeper with ease. Prior to that Forest had had the better of it and that was the way it continued for much of the half.

Town had a lucky escape not long after the goal when they failed to clear a corner and Guy Bonwick cleared the ball off the line. Forest were having a lot of possession and passed the ball better, but weren’t really creating the chances in order to get themselves level.

Town’s came nearest to a second when a corner from the left was flicked goalwards by Snowdon on the front post. Fortunately for Forest their number five, Michael Dawson was on hand to head away.

Town’s scorer Steve Burton was replaced on 34 minutes after suffering a leg injury in a heavy challenge.

With the half almost up and a half-time lead almost in the bag Forest hit back. Eugen Bopp scored with a curler from wide on the right after a short corner. Town keeper Darren Kelly will be disappointed that he got only a hand to a shot in at his near post.

Town started the second half brightly and Darren Bent hat a shot from just outside the area when he had time to get nearer and the shot was saved. A few minutes later he wasted an opportunity when he was through one-on-one with the keeper. He took his time, but the keeper got to his shot and put it by the post.

Town went 2-1 up when Bent picked up the ball halfway inside the Forest half, took the ball forward, went inside a defender and hit a shot past Formann in the Forest goal.

Town continued to press as they looked a far better side than they had in the first half and Forest were leaving gaps at the back. Artun made a break into the box from the left and Richards tired to get crosses in from the left.

On 78 minutes Dawson was booked for sending a Town player flying. Surprisingly this was the first yellow card of the match given a number of rather wild tackles from both sides.

Late on excellent skills in the right corner from Ambrose gave bent another sight on goal but he mishit his shot to the keeper. A shot from Westlake flashed past the post in injury time as a series of corners continued to put the pressure on.

After protracted injury time referee Woolmer blew his whistle. It was a thoroughly professional performance from Town against a good Forest side.

Photo: Action Images

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