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Dream The Impossible Dream

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Forest played with as much purpose and conviction today, as a side ending the season with mid table mediocrity ahead of them. As it turns out, we somehow remain in with a chance of nicking an automatic promotion place, following a 1-0 win at home to Luton and the failings of Carlisle and Doncaster.

Calderwood hinted at resting players before the game. Thank God he didn’t, because he may well have blown the slim chance we still have. The first half was played at an almost pedestrian pace and had the fans snoring. The news that Southend were winning away at Carlisle woke us from our slumber and soon spread around the ground, like a game of Chinese whispers. It didn’t affect the team though, as they ambled through the game.

There was the usual blood and guts from Bennett and Commons flattered to deceive, but Forest rarely threatened. Commons forced a good save from Brill in the Luton goal with a curling effort and Cohen saw his long range effort go just over the bar.

Just before half time, it seemed as though all hell had broke out in Capital One Corner when fans were fighting between themselves. Fighting is a bit strong, but there was definitely handbags raised and tempers were short, as the anti Calderwood boys squared up with his followers. One was ejected and doused in coffee for his troubles. A ‘Calderwood Out’ banner was unfurled and quickly rolled up again, but normal service was soon resumed when the banner was confiscated. Probably on the grounds of Health and Safety.

The half time interval meant a welcome break from the football and all the talk was of the chances of Carlisle Royally screwing things up. This idle chatter was broken with the return to the field of the teams. Forest made a change and brought on new kid on the block McCleary for Ormerod. He seemed to make a difference, as the Reds seemed a little more positive and may have been buoyed by the half time results elsewhere.

The Hatters went close when a Parkin header glanced the bar and soon after had another, when Julian Bennett came to the rescue and flung his body in the way of a shot from Spring. Things were livening up and threatening to break out into a football match.

The breakthrough finally came in the 67th minute. Good work from Commons saw him beat two men. His cross was headed on by McCleary and Tyson made hard work putting it in the net. At the third attempt at poking the ball, it finally went over the line and put us one up. A scrappy goal, but a goal nonetheless.

Luton were to miss their best chance of the game when Sam Parkin only had Smith to beat but he couldn’t get his shot on target. Tyson made Brill make a couple of late saves, but the game was to peter out without any change to the scoreline.

Because of a defeat and a draw for Carlisle and Donny respectively, we now have a chance of automatic promotion. We only sit 3 points off second placed Carlisle and just 1 off Donny in 3rd. We still need to win both our remaining games and need them to mess up in their’s. But the chance is there and we are allowed to dream. We only have to hope that the players can be bothered, because on todays showing they might need reminding. Colin said it would be interesting, didn’t he?

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Gone But Never Forgotten