Report courtesy www.rovers.co.uk

ROVERS Reserves ended their five game winless run, with a convincing 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest this evening.

Goals from Gary Harkins, Matt Derbyshire and a Paddy Gamble own goal were enough to see Glyn Hodges men pick up all three points.

It was a game that Rovers dominated throughout, with the home side creating chance after chance.

Ten minutes into the game Joel Byrom swung in a corner that fell to Paul Weaver who struck the ball acrobatically, but it crashed against the post and away to safety.

Jerome Watt was lively throughout, and when he got on the end of an excellent cross-field pass from Lorenzo Amoruso it looked a certain goal, but Watt's shot was deflected for a corner.

Watt then turned provider on nineteen, playing the ball into Irish full back Tony Kane on the overlap, but the Forest goalkeeper Paddy Gamble saved at the second attempt.

Rovers continued to press forward, but Byrom, Weaver and Johnson were all denied.

The breakthrough eventually came five minutes before the break when Gary Harkins rose at the near post to glance Jerome Watt's corner into the far post, although the ball may have come off a Forest head on its way into the back of the net.

It was more of the same in the second half as the home side showed their superiority. Gary Harkins almost doubled Rovers lead with a fine strike that Gamble had to save at the second attempt after fine work from Johnson on the left.

Striker Jemal was again in the thick of the action as he set up midfielder Weaver, but his shot flashed inches wide.

Forest didn't have an effort on goal until the 63^rd minute when substitute Eoin Jess shot harmlessly over from distance, but it was rare respite for the visitors as Rovers continue to press.

The toll eventually told on 68 minutes, Jemal Johnson's fine work in the corner was rewarded when his centre was perfect for substitute Matt Derbyshire who made no mistake with a header from inside the six yard box.

Forest 'keeper blotted his copybook on 76 minutes when from a Jerome Watt cross from the right he somehow managed to fumble the ball under the back of the net, Joel Byrom was threatening, but wasn't really in a position to put the Forest 'keeper under pressure.

FOREST: Gamble, Hanson, Vickerton, McGugan, Fernandez, Roberts, Rigby, Hughes, Vickers (sub Jess 61 mins), Glass, Blair (sub Bastian 26 mins).
Subs not used: Hurren, Cullingworth.