Nottingham Forest claimed the local bragging rights as they ran out 2-1 winners over Notts County in Mike Edwards' testimonial game at Meadow Lane.

Alex Rodman had cancelled out Ben Osborn's earlier strike for Forest but Jamie Paterson struck with 13 minutes to play to ensure The Reds would take a fourth consecutive pre-season victory.









Forest made the early running in the warm conditions as the first chance of the game fell to midfielder Matty Cash. The youngster attempted a speculative effort from 20 yards but his powerfully-struck shot went wide of Scott Loach's goal and crashed into the advertising boards.





The home side responded well and had arguably the best chance of the half two minutes later but striker Izale McLeod could only clear the crossbar when well-placed inside the Forest penalty area.





Apostolos Vellios and Henri Lansbury combined beautifully on 25 minutes as The Reds almost made the breakthrough. Vellios provided a delightful back-heel into Lansbury's path inside the box but the Forest midfielder shot over the crossbar and into the stand behind the goal.





Oliver Burke had been causing problems for the Notts defence throughout the first half with his pace and almost broke the deadlock five minutes before the interval. After finding space in the penalty area, Burke could only curl a shot wide of the far post with the outside of his right foot.





Forest began the second half strongly and could have been ahead on 53 minutes. Chris Cohen released Osborn in behind the Notts defence but the midfielder sent his effort wide of the target from a difficult angle.





Osborn wasn't to be denied though and did hand Forest the advantage soon after. He picked the ball up in space in a central position, let fly, and watched as a deflection took the ball up and over goalkeeper Adam Collin and into the net.





To their credit Notts responded well to going behind and levelled the contest on 65 minutes. Summer signing Alex Rodman found space outside the Forest penalty area and made no mistake as he arrowed a low shot past Dimitar Evtimov into the bottom corner.





Another deflected strike brought another goal for The Reds though and it proved to be the winner. Paterson had made a positive impact since appearing from the bench and his shot took a nick off a Notts defender before nestling in the far corner of Collin's net.





: Notts CountyLoach (Collin 46'), Audel (Duffy 46'), Edwards (Dickinson 45'), Hollis, Smith (Atkinson 63'), Tootle (Aborah 46'), Hewitt (Richards 80'), Trialist (Burke 46'), Campbell (Rodman 46'), Snijders (Stead 46' (Trialist 87')), McLeod (Forte 46')

Goal: Rodman 65'

Forest: De Vries (Evtimov 46'), Fox, Hobbs, Mills, Lichaj, Cohen, Lansbury, Cash (Paterson 63'), Osborn, Burke (Grant 85'), Vellios (Assombalonga 72')

Goals: Osborn 57', Paterson 77'

Attendance: 9,007 (4,970 away)





The game was being played to celebrate Notts defender Mike Edwards' testimonial year and the home favourite received a guard of honour from both sets of players before kick-off as well as standing ovation from all sides of Meadow Lane.