City's unbeaten start to the Pontin's Holidays League was emphatically ended at the City Ground on Tuesday afternoon.

Goals from Emile Sinclair (3), Matt Thornhill (2), Wes Morgan, Tom Sharpe and Scott Dobie secured an 8-0 win and ensured Forest extended their lead at the top of the table to eight points.

The home side had former Northern Irish international Neil Lennon in midfield while ex-West Brom forward Scott Dobie lined up in attack.

It was a stark contrast to the youthful side Adrian Pennock fielded with only Marlon Broomes and Matt Hazley having made first team appearances.

The match kicked off and City started brightly with Wedderburn almost firing the visitors ahead, but his early strike was cleared off the line.

Forest hit back though and opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Emile Sinclair latched onto a clever through ball and struck his shot past the outstretched hand of Danzelle St. Louis Hamilton into the far corner of the net from ten yards out.

The home side nearly made it two moments later when Matt Thornhill saw his strike well saved by St. Louis Hamilton and then failed to score from the rebound.

Stoke did have chances of their own despite the early pressure and when Hazley crossed from the left hand side keeper Dale Roberts had to be on hand to thwart a close range Nathan McDonald effort.

Colin Calderwood's side were to double their lead midway through the first half when a great Matt Lockwood cross from the left hand side found an unmarked Thornhill in the area who steered his header into the far corner.

A neat move down the right hand side shortly after saw the Potters force another corner.

Kenny Keys and Jimmy Phillips combined with the latter's cross being deflected by Wes Morgan for a corner.

St. Louis Hamilton was again in action at the other end with five minutes of the half remaining and was on hand to tip a powerful Thornhill striker over the bar for a corner.

However, he could no do nothing about Morgan's header that flew into the net from the resulting flag-kick.

City kicked off the second period and almost fell behind even further after losing possession, but Sinclair fired over from 8-yards.

Lathan Forrester won the Potters a dangerous free-kick after a bursting run which resulted in former Celtic man Lennon chopping him down.

Northern Ireland U20 international Hazley curled the ball past the wall but Roberts stood firm to calmly gather his effort.

The hosts realistically ended the game just after the hour mark, with the impressive Sinclair powering home a close range header.

Just seven minutes later Thornhill made it five; after rounding the City keeper and rolling the ball in to an empty net.

It got even worse shortly after as the City rearguard failed to clear their lines, resulting in defender Tom Sharpe smashing the ball home from close range.

The League One side compounded the misery on the Potters late on, adding two more goals thanks to Sinclair and Dobie.

FOREST (4-4-2): Roberts, Moloney, Lockwood (Heath 62), Lennon (Reid 62), Sharpe, Morgan, Power, Thornhill (Fairclough 73), Sinclair, Dobie, Byrne. Subs: Redmond, Pearson.

CITY (4-4-2): St. Louis Hamilton; Keys (Ho 41), Broomes (c), Wedderburn, Watson; Phillips, Grocott, Thorley, Hazley (Diao Jimenez 81); Forrester, McDonald (McCormick 73). Subs: Harrison, Vauls.