Report
Leyton (Est 1997) won this local derby, but from totally dominating the early stages they were left hanging on in the second-half, and had Forest earned a draw it would have been no less than they deserved.
On a pitch with very little grass Forest’s close passing game was always going to be difficult. In the 5th minute Manny Williams picked up a clearance and passed to Trevor Paul, but Gavin King raced from his line to force the home forward to shoot wide, 3 minutes later Williams had a shot turned aside by King, and Forest were under sustained pressure with Arif Yozcu and Liam Baptiste conceding corners in quick succession.
18 minutes had elapsed before Forest penetrated the home defence when Baptiste took a free kick which Robert Still placed wide of the post. A late tackle on Carl Fannon resulted in Ian Barnes’ name being the first of 3 Forest players to be entered in Mr Mason’s notebook.
Soon after King made another good save, but the home attack had strayed offside. The Leyton pressure finally saw the deadlock broken in the 28th minute when following a foul by Baptiste the deep free kick was converted by Williams at the far post.
Forest countered but a through ball from Hugues Guei found Mark Stein in an offside position and soon after a free kick by Dave Bastian just eluded Simon Tickner at the far post.
Leyton looked to add to their lead and both Simon Preddie and Fannon hit efforts wide of the target.
Dave Field was booked on 41 minutes for a late tackle on Scott Curley who had to be replaced for the second half.
Forest finished the half well with Field, Stein, Yozcu and Barnes linking well to provide a heading opportunity for Guei which Hassell comfortably saved, and just before the break a pass from Guei found Barnes but his shot was well over the bar.
Leyton seemed to sit back on their lead in the second half and Forest soon won their first corner from which a header by Tickner was cleared off his line by Roy Parkyn with Hassell beaten.
While have the better of the play Forest were not really troubling the home defence and on the hour Joe Nartey was introduced for Still and was soon causing problems for his former club. A cross from Barnes was headed goal wards by Nartey, but was blocked out to Bastian and his header was saved.
On a counter attack Williams disposed Guei and was fouled by Baptiste on the edge of the box. The Forest man earned a yellow card, but the wall held firm against the resulting free kick.
On 68 minutes Chris Cashman replaced Yozcu and was soon in action after a foul on Nartey, but his well-flighted free kick went wide of the post. At the other end King did well to save from Williams.
The final telling pass was still eluding Forest and with 10 minutes left Alan Cox was introduced on the right in place of Baptiste. He was quickly linking with Stein to provide Field with a shooting chance that was wide.
Leyton were clinging on to their lead and it looked as Forest’s pressure might bring a late reward when Stein headed down for Wayne Brown to fire in a low shot which beat Hassell but slipped the wrong side of the post.
So Leyton claim the points, but Forest can take heart from a battling performance particularly in the second-half which made a lie of the 15 places between the 2 teams.
Teams: Leyton: Hassell, Peddie, Golby, Honeyball, Wood, Fannon (Thomas 90), Bajada, Parkyn, Paul, Curley (Georgiou 46), Williams. Subs not used White, Deane and Wood.
Waltham Forest: King, Barnes, Bastian, Tickner, Brown, Baptiste (Cox 80), Yozcu (Cashman 68), Guei, Still (Nartey 60), Stein and Field. Subs not used: Yhdego and Johnson.