U23 Report: Saints 3-1 Nottingham Forest

Kornelius Hansen opening the scoring after 18 minutes with a brilliant solo dribble, eventually finding the keeper’s far left corner.

Forest responded just under ten minutes later; the dangerous Alex Mighten capitalising after a mix-up in the Saints defence.

But Saints turned the screw during the second half, as goals from Jake Vokins and then Christoph Klarer – both resulting from crosses – secured the vital three points.

The game had started as somewhat of a stalemate, with both sides enjoying even shares of possession.

Eventually, after 18 minutes, it was Saints who broke the deadlock through a superb solo effort from Hansen.

The youngster twisted and turned past two defenders, before curling an effort into the keeper’s far left corner from inside the penalty area.

Minutes later it was so nearly two; Norton losing his marker and finding an unmarked Kieran Freeman at the back post, who forced a strong save from Forest’s Marios Siampanis.

But the visitors refused to give up despite this Saints pressure, and after 26 minutes they made their own form of pressure count, levelling the scores through the lively Mighten who capitalised on a defensive error.

For the remainder of the half the majority of the action was contested in midfield, with both sides having chances to go ahead but to no avail.

The story of the first 45 is told through the fact that four yellow cards were evenly spread between the sides before the break.

Saints had a huge chance at the start of the second half to retake the lead, with Klarer only denied by a point-blank Siampanis save at the back post.

Seconds later and the hosts did indeed go ahead once again: skipper Vokins firing in a cross from the right flank which eventually found the back of the net via a Forest head after 54 minutes.

After several minutes of end-to-end action, it was Saints again who went closest; with 75 on the clock Lucas Defise played through Hansen, who produced another fine save from Siampanis.

From the resulting corner, the hosts made it 3-1; Klarer rising highest following a parried save to head home Saints’ third of the afternoon.

The third didn't hampen Forest's fight however, but the Saints defence stood strong whenever the visitors looked to threatening during the closing stages. 

Saints eventually confirmed the win, meaning their unbeaten start to the Premier League Cup continued following a draw on opening day. 

Their next outing comes against Royal Navy in the Hampshire Senior Cup on Tuesday.