Waltham Forest 2-3 Welwyn Garden City

Waltham Forest slipped to their fourth consecutive pre-season defeat, despite being ahead twice against Spartan League side Welwyn Garden City.

There were returns for two former Forest players, as Marvin Samuels played the first half on the right wing, and Nej Hussein returned between the sticks, playing for the first time since the 2005-6 season.

Forest started brightly, and Alan Gallagher tested the visiting ‘keeper early on, flowing a good counter-attacking move.

And not too long later, Forest were ahead. Jack Bell made some room for himself up-front, and when his goal-bound effort was blocked by a Welwyn hand, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Enoche Arbaut confidently stepped up and slotted the ball home. Click here to see a video of the penalty, and follow Forest on Instagram.

Forest’s joy was short-lived however, and a long-range effort only moments later meant the scores were again level.

Samuels made a goal-scoring return to Forest, as he converted Gallagher’s pin-point cross late in the second half.

There was still time for Welwyn to level again, as Hussein was well beaten by a long-range effort for the second time.

Wholesale changes at half time from both sides meant the second half took a while to get going. However, tempers frayed midway through the half following a dangerous challenge on Zeby Cole.

After a long break, the referee spoke to a player from each side, and the game continued.

But the stop-start nature of the half continued, with Lee Scott claiming he had been headbutted, and a blatent kick on the Forest ‘keeper both going unpunished.

And the visitors got a late winner, with their forward poking home a perfectly-weighted through ball.

Forest now host Great Wakering Rovers on Saturday.