Highly-rated teenage striker, Adam Rooney, came closest to breaking the deadlock between two very young teams at the City Ground.

The tightly-fought contest was an hour old when the Eire under-17 international struck a fierce shot which slipped through the home 'keeper's hands. But the ball struck the crossbar.

Twenty five minutes earlier the 17-year-old Dubliner also nearly scored when he met a Norbert Zsivoczky free-kick with a header which was well saved.

City were strong in midfield.Anthony Pulis had the other best goal effort, a well-struck shot as early as the twelfth minute. His midfield partner, Karl Henry, demonstrated many characteristic good touches.

Forest started the game the brighter side, but for all their neat passing and their lively strikers rarely troubled a City defence well-marshalled by skipper Andy Wilkinson, making a welcome return from injury.

Robert Duggan was the quieter of the two goalkeepers, but distinguished himself with one particularly smart save at the beginning of the second-half.

Of the promising younger players from Noel Blake's Academy, the two full-backs, Josh Wilson and Ryan Shotton, turned in the most encouraging performances.

City: Robert Duggan, Josh Wilson, Andy Wilkinson, Karl Henry (Geoff McGaw 80), Danny Hughes, Ryan Shotton, Robert Garrett, Anthony Pulis, Adam Rooney (Ryan Mullan 86), Martin Paterson, Norbert Zsivoczky. Subs (not used) Chris Sanna, Sean Robinson, Liam Page.