Nottingham Forest 2 (Taylor 66, Nadin 87) Wolves 0
Wolves under-21s were beaten by Nottingham Forest in their opening game of the 2024/25 Premier League 2 season.
Dale Taylor and Jack Nadin scored the goals for the home side in the second period as James Collins’ side left the Loughborough University Stadium empty-handed.
Wolves made a bright start to proceedings when Wes Okoduwa raced down the right-hand side and had men in the centre. His cross reached Tom Edozie who was striding into the box and met it with his left boot at the back post, but could only skew comfortably wide.
At the other end, Joe Gardner made tracks down the Forest right and crossed low where Alex Mighten was stretching, but he was unable to get enough contact to divert the ball on target.
The home side had the better openings of the first 45 and came closest when Taylor picked up the ball inside the box, turned his marker and fired an effort which struck the outside of the post.
Caden Voice then made a vital block with his head to deny Taylor, before Mighten worked his way around his marker on the left before cutting inside and shooting into the gloves of Lewys Benjamin.
Half-time | Forest 0-0 Wolves
Following Alfie White’s introduction at half-time, the Old Gold were forced into an early change shortly after the restart with Finn Ashworth feeling unwell and being replaced by Owen Farmer.
Similar to the first 45, it was Forest who had more success when it came to sightings on goal. Gardner worked his way into a shooting position on the edge and it required a strong right glove from Benjamin to keep the ball out of the net as the goalkeeper showed smart reflexes to save.
However, despite that impressive stop, there was nothing Benjamin could do to prevent the opening goal just a minute later. After Mighten had shrugged off his man in midfield, he slipped the ball in behind for Taylor who had time to pick his spot and slot into the bottom corner.
Shortly after, Taylor found space again, this time on the edge of the area, but he could only find the gloves of Benjamin.
Wolves then attacked down their left through Farmer who managed to dig out a cross and, after it was only half-cleared, Luke Rawlings struck a low half volley on target, but into the arms of the goalkeeper.
Benjamin had to be at his very best to produce a diving save when Rawlings gave the ball away and Taylor spotted the top corner, before the Old Gold stopper flew across his goal to tip the ball around for a corner.
Forest made it two with three minutes to play when substitute Nadin found the back of the net with his first touch, being the first to react when Benjamin had parried out Mighten’s cross from the left.
Full-time | Forest 2-0 Wolves
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s host Arsenal at Compton Park on Friday afternoon in their first home fixture of the PL2 campaign.
NEXT THREE
- 23/08 Arsenal (H)
- 31/08 Brighton (A)
- 03/09 Port Vale (A) BSM Trophy
TEAMS
Forest | Bott, Back, Powell (Newton 90+6), Abbott, Donnelly, Perry (Nadin 87), McAdam, Perkins, Taylor, Gardner (Sinclair 80), Mighten (Berry 90+6)
Subs not used | Griffiths.
Wolves | Benjamin, Okoduwa (White 46), Voice, Rawlings (Keto-Diyawa 86), Mabete, Ojinnaka, Ashworth (Farmer 51), Whittingham, Holman, Edozie (Angel 80), Esen.
Subs not used | Nasta.
