B TEAM ROUND OFF REGULAR SEASON WITH WIN OVER PALACE

Nottingham Forest B Team ended the Premier League 2 regular season in superb fashion with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Friday. A fast-paced start saw the young Reds enjoy plenty of early chances, but clear openings were not forthcoming. Against a Crystal Palace side who knew they were just a win away from securing a top 16 finish, the fierce wind did little to ease the challenge. But Forest kept pushing, and as the rain started to fall, Lamin Sillah headed the young Reds in front after latching onto a Blaine McClure cross in the box. Moments after the opener, Jimmy Sinclair broke into the box down the right-hand side, but the ball was taken away from him fractionally before he could pull the trigger. As conditions worsened, Forest kept the visitors under plenty of pressure, but another goal eluded them before the break. Half-time: Forest B Team 1-0 Crystal Palace U21s In the second half, Forest offered little respite for the Eagles and moved further in front in the 52nd minute when Zyan Blake rocketed an effort past Harrison Lee. The ball had fallen for Blake near the edge of the area, and the 18-year-old showed no lack of conviction as he fired his strike to double Forest’s lead. Just a few minutes after Blake doubled Forest’s lead, a cross towards the back post looked destined for Sillah’s head as he stared down a near-empty net, but the visitors were able to scramble it behind for a corner. A thoroughly professional showing deprived the visitors of many moments which offered so much as a glimmer of hope of a dramatic comeback. In the closing stages, it was Forest who came closest to finding another goal, but a third breakthrough did not materialise, as the young Reds ran out 2-0 winners. The result moves the young Reds into the Premier League 2 top 16, but they must wait to learn their fate owing to a plethora of games in hand elsewhere in the division. Full-time: Forest B Team 2-0 Crystal Palace U21s