New 25/26 Third Kit
New 25/26 Third Kit
Nottingham Forest B Team claimed a point against League Two side Tranmere Rovers this evening in the opening fixture of our Vertu Trophy campaign.
Faud Smith gave Warren Joyce’s side the dream start at Prenton Park when he drilled the ball into the net with just two minutes on the clock.
Goals in either half from Jordan Turnbull and Josh Davison meant the home side looked set to claim the points, but Forest levelled through Kalum Thompson with minutes remaining.
The hosts went on to win the resulting penalty shoot-out 9-8, but the draw over 90 minutes means the Reds still take a point from the fixture.
Forest started on the front foot and made the perfect start on Merseyside when Laime Sillah held the ball up for Smith to fire Joyce’s side ahead with a fine first-time finish from the edge of the box.
The home side levelled the proceedings on 14 minutes when Turnbull headed home from Sol Solomon’s outswinging corner.
Just before the half-hour mark, Adam Berry and Archie Whitehall both had chances to restore the Reds’ advantage, but their efforts were blocked.
Forest more than held their own against the League Two side, enjoying more shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
The back three restricted Tranmere’s attacking play, dealing with the numerous crosses delivered into the Forest box, and the sides went in level at the half-time break.
Half-time: Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Forest B Team
After a quiet start to the second period, Sillah went close to restoring the Reds’ advantage on 56 minutes when he connected with Berry’s dipping cross, but directed the ball over the bar.
Moments later, the hosts turned the game on its head when Davison’s strike from the edge of the box beat Luke Campbell in the Forest goal.
The Forest ‘keeper did well to prevent Turnbull heading in his second of the match on 73 minutes, parrying the effort away for another corner, from which a free-kick was awarded to Joyce’s team.
On 80 minutes, the young Reds almost levelled when Jack Thompson’s header drifted just wide, before Berry placed the ball narrowly off target two minutes later in Forest’s final clear chance of the game.
Joyce’s side netted the equaliser their play deserved on 89 minutes when Thompson coolly slotted into the Tranmere net after being played in behind the defence, sending the tie to penalties.
The hosts won the shoot-out 9-8, but Forest still take a point after finishing the 90 minutes on level terms against EFL opposition.
Forest are next in action on Saturday, when the defence of the Premier League International Cup begins with a visit from Dinamo Zagreb U21s to the City Ground (kick-off 2pm BST).
Full-time: Tranmere Rovers 2-2 Forest B Team (Tranmere win 9-8 on penalties)
Tranmere: Barrett, Lowe, Turnbull (Smith 80'), Brough, Joseph (Patrick 92'), Blacker (Norman 60'), Solomon (Whitaker 78'), Harris, Davison, Jennings, Ironside (Smallwood 61')
Nott'm Forest U21: Campbell, Thompson, Abbott, Hanks, Newton, Hammond (Nwosu 87'), Whitehall (McClure 61'), Sinclair, Smith, Berry (Kalum Thompson 72'), Sillah
Subs: Yaya, McClure, Willows, Modupe, Sanneh, Nwosu, Kalum Thompson