24/07/2008 - Nottingham Forest v telford match report
The body language said it all. From his vantage point high at the back of Telford's main stand, Forest manager Colin Calderwood was all smiles as he chatted happily with chairman Nigel Doughty.
The club may have spent upwards of £5m putting together the squad that the duo hope will challenge in the Championship this season.
But last night it was the turn of the club's younger generation to shine, with a performance that suggested the club's own production line, as well as their extensive scouting network, may yet have just a big a role to play.
This was again a side formed with a blend of youth and experience - but it was the younger generation that came to the fore, as Forest cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win at AFC Telford.
While the other half of the Forest squad had begun slowly at Burton on Tuesday, the Reds were at full tempo almost from kick-off last night, as they attempted to avoid a repeat of the criticism that their team-mates had suffered the night before.
But, while Forest should be praised for their bright start, which earned them a 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes and a 3-0 advantage before half-time, Telford, at least until the final stages, did not offer the same level of resistance as Burton.
Calderwood had named a team without a senior striker, with both Andrew Cole and Robert Earnshaw suffering minor injuries, but they were far from lacking in cutting edge, as the team's junior members demonstrated some impressive decisiveness in front of goal.
At the very least, if anyone had been worried that there was a lack of back-up, when it came to cover for Forest's big name front-line, last night was enough to suggest that there are some promising alternatives developing in the wings.
Garath McCleary was looking lively down the left flank, cutting inside to smash a low shot goalwards that was thudded clear after just three minutes.
And the winger, who was playing at a non-league level with Bromley last season, showed a flash of quality again three minutes later, to set-up the opening goal, as he laid the ball off perfectly for Matt Thornhill to prod an eight-yard finish inside the far post.
Ryan Whitehurst, playing down the right side but often almost as a third striker, forced a strong save from Ryan Young within 60 seconds before lashing the rebound over the bar, after the keeper had parried.
Andy Brown came close to pulling the home side level with a close range effort that seemed to deflect off Ian Breckin on its way to rebounding back off the woodwork.
But Forest quickly doubled their advantage, with McCleary feeding Emile Sinclair, who saw Young spread himself to block well, only for the ball to fall invitingly to Whitehurst.
The teenager responded with a perfect delivery to the far post for McCleary to head home from two yards.
Forest threatened more as Sinclair lashed a low shot into the side netting, but the third goal was not long in coming as, nine minutes before half-time, Chris Cohen surged forwards from midfield and unleashed a fierce low drive, which deflected nicely into the path of Adam Newbold, who slotted an instant shot inside the far post.
Telford's resistance was minimal, although they almost pulled one back before the break as Lee Moore crossed for Brown to lift a header onto the bar and over.
Normal service was resumed after the break as Forest netted a fourth in the 59th minute, as Whitehurst produced another lively cameo, this time to beat his man and slot an incisive pass through to Sinclair, allowing the striker to produce a side-footed finish from eight yards.
Newbold had a crisp shot cleared off the line following a clever cut back from Sinclair left Young exposed.
And Telford actually succeeded in pulling a late goal back, as Martin Naylor, the veteran brother of Celtic's Lee Naylor, lifted a spectacular 20-yard shot high into the roof of the net, after striking the ball on the volley.
But it was Forest's younger generation who had unquestionably stolen the limelight.
TELFORD: Young, Naylor (Gregory 82), Jagielka, Cowan (Hartlebury 82), Whitehead, Rodgers (Khela 60), Nwadike, Vermiglio, Brown, Moore (Fearns 64), Blakeman (Adams 64).
FOREST: Roberts, Chambers, Wilson (Bencherif 62), Breckin (Sharpe 62), Reid, Whitehurst (Staples 78), Thornhill, Cohen (Hook 70), McCleary (Byrne 78), Newbold, Sinclair.
REFEREE: S Dorr
ATTENDANCE: 1,441