Football Comes Together

Notts County 0-1 Nottingham Forest (Friendly) 15.07.23

Above and beyond the city of Nottingham came together yesterday as a friendly match between Notts County and Nottingham Forest at Meadow Lane paid respect to those that lost their lives in the Nottingham Attacks, as students Grace Kelly Kumar, Barnaby Webber and Forest fan Ian Coates were remembered, as well as Notts County fan Barry Spooner himself a victim to a knife attack in his own home last month.

The football community of Nottingham played a proud moment of silence and applause ahead of a pre-season game in front of 16,000 plus fans in black, white and red, the matchday programme bearing the photos of those who sadly lost their lives, never forgotten, the days motto.

The game itself gave Premier League Forest the chance to have a look at some young players alongside some familiar faces from last seasons survival team, George Shelvey in goal, Brandon Aguilera in midfield and Josh Powell in attack three youthful starters alongside an otherwise strong looking side announced by Manager Steve Cooper.

For Notts, who a week ago were thumped 5-1 by Championship Stoke City, they went with an equally strong team from the off, all be it resting last seasons top goalscorer Macaulay Langstaff who would instead enter the field in the second half.

The match itself saw the Magpies overly impress, the home side going close through Jim O’Brien early doors after blazing over from Aaron Nemane’s low centre, Forest would respond with an effort wide by Orel Mangala from outside the box but it was Nemane, teasing down the right who proved a constant menace during the first half, he caused chaos to cross again and the part defended clearance fell to Sam Austin who blasted another effort over the bar.

The Reds did have chances to take the lead ahead of the break as Aguilera tested Stone from distance before crossing a free kick onto the head of Niakhate who should have hit the target, unmarked inside the box he headed wide of goal.

Plenty of changes were made for the second half by both sides and it was an early error by Kyle Cameron that was capitalised on from kick off by Forest sub Hwang Ui-Jo who stole the ball off the defender and placed past the goalkeeper with his first few touches of the ball. Hwang, a Korean international was on loan at Olympiacos last season after signing from Bordeaux.

Notts did fight back and pressed hard for a leveller, Luther Munakandafar perhaps snatching their best chance wide, but a good workout in front of a great crowd at Meadow Lane, bringing Nottingham together as the city remembered, respected, and reflected, as one.

Notts County: Stone, Chicksen (Mahovo 60), Cameron (Claxton 60), Rawlinson (Bajrami 60), Adebayo-Rowling (Brindley 60), Palmer (Bostock 46), O’Brien (Crowley 60), Austin (Munakandafar 60), Jones (McGoldrick 60), Nemane (Randall 46), Scott (Langstaff 46).

Nottingham Forest: Shelvey, Worrall (Yates 46), Mangala (McKenna 46), Williams (Danilo 46), Awoniyi (Boly 46), Mighten (Hwang 46), Niakhate (Bowler 46), Freuler (Drager 46), Denis (Taylor 46), Aguilera (Donnelly 46), Powell (Gardner 46).

Venue: Meadow Lane (16,482)

*Main image @NFFC Kyle Cameron of Notts battling with Forest’s Hwang.

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