Report
The Stags scored twice in the first two minutes to take command of this tie, but a late strike by the home side led to a nail biting finish before the victory which takes us through to the last 8. From the kick-off the ball was played back to Stanway keeper Michael Church, but his low clearance fell in the path of Leon Belton-McKenzie who ran twenty yards before slamming the ball home.
From the restart Stanway won a throw in, but this was cleared to Jermain Hughes down the right flank. He cut in and saw his shot parried by Church, but squared the rebound across to Stuart Houghton to score.
Stanway tried to regroup and a through ball from Turner saw Buga flick on to Witney, but the striker was offside.
Forest countered with good build up play from Sosthene Guei, Papy Kantuka, Getro Kilapi and Houghton, but Stanway cleared the ball to Belton-Mckenzie whose shot was pushed out to Houghton. His effort was turned aside for a corner. Soon after another Houghton effort was punched clear by Church and Kanyuka’s shot was just over the bar.
Kilapi conceded a free kick on the edge of the box, but Witney’s effort struck the defensive wall and went for corner. This was cleared to Kanyuka who beat two players and brought a good save from Church.
On 15 minutes Turner found himself clear with only Jason Willis to beat, but the Forest keeper made a fine save.
Stanway were coming more into the game and Willis was forced to make two more excellent saves tipping a Witney effort over the bar and then saving a shot from Saunders following the corner. On the half-hour another good build up involving Glenn Harvey and Houghton found Belton-McKenzie narrowly offside. Harvey then saw a free kick turned aside and Hughes was caught offside. Stanway responded with a left-sided attack a minute before the break and Saunders played the ball through to Turner who was fouled in the box. Willis was booked for delaying the spot-kick, and Scott Witney eventually blasted the ball home to send the home side in for half-time with some hope of turning the tie round.
Stanway looked to get on terms after the restart, but the Forest defence held firm. Both Turner for Stanway and Belton-McKenzie for Forest went close, but on 58 minutes a long range effort by Saunders was well taken by Willis who cleared to Belton-McKenzie. He played a telling pass to Guei who sent Hughes through to score Forest’s third goal.
Belton-McKenzie was then cautioned for delaying a Stanway free kick as the home side tried to respond.
On 64 minutes Nicky Stevens looked to have added a fourth but was just offside. Then on 70 minutes Kanyuka cut in from the right to beat 3 defenders, but his shot was just over the bar. He was immediately replaced by Matt Connolly, while Stanway made two changes. Forest went close again through Hughes and Belton-McKenzie, and on 76 minutes Forest introduced their second substitute when Fanfan Eale replace Kilapi.
Willis made another fine save from Stanway substitute Newson and Simon Tickner became the third Forest player to be booked, this was for dissent.
On 78 Danilson Vincente replaced Hughes, and was soon involved in an attack which was cleared.
David Bastian then headed a goal bound free kick off the line, and then Forest went looking to seal their victory. It seemed to have on 87 minutes when Houghton beat 3 defenders and forced a corner which was met by Stevens, but his header was blocked on the line and cleared up field to Compton who crossed for Paul Symes to slot home Stanway’s second goal. Stanway pressed for an equaliser but the Forest defence held firm. In stoppage time Newson had to be carried off as he came off second best in a 50-50 challenge with Tickner.
In the end a good victory over an ambitious Stanway side that must be certs for promotion to the Eastern Counties Premier Division.