Forest dump County out of the Masters

A late goal from Nigel Jemson ensured that Notts County were sent home early in tonight's Central Masters tournament.

Notts were just one minute away from joining Leicester City in the final of the regional competition - which also included Derby County, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday - before the bright haired forward clinched the late winner.

The Magpies were placed in Group 1 alongside Derby and Forest…

Match 1: Notts County v Derby County

Brace: Richardson scored twice in the tournament opener...

Opening the tournament against Derby, Notts could not have started any worse. An early ball to the feet of Dean Sturridge at the spearhead of the Rams' attack enabled him to sharply turn past Alan Paris to swing the ball into the right hand corner past Steve Cherry in the County goal.

The Magpies soon got back onto level terms when the ball was fed inside to Ian Richardson in an advanced position. Shifting the ball onto his left foot, he drilled the ball to the right of the wrong-footed Chris Holmes.

It was Richardson again who put Notts in front when he received the ball with his back to goal inside the Derby penalty area. He skilfully turned, placing the ball to the left of the goalkeeper.

Cherry made a couple of good saves late on, keeping Notts in the lead before Shane Richardson hit a thunderous strike into the top-left corner to level the game.

Full Time: Notts County 2-2 Derby County

Match 2: Nottingham Forest v Notts County

Mouthy: Jemson aggressively protested throughout...

A 1-1 draw between Derby and Forest meant that a 2-2 draw would be enough to see Notts progress into the final against the winners of Group 2.

County started off well, testing Darren Heyes twice. However, it was Forest that broke the deadlock through none other than Jason Lee, who drilled a powerful low effort into the bottom-left corner from the right wing.

Ian Baraclough levelled for Notts later in the half, pouncing onto a rebound to drive the ball into the roof of the net.

Forest immediately broke with the rotund figure of Nigel Jemson denied at close range by Cherry. Jemson furiously protested the decision, as he felt that he was unfairly challenged by Richardson.

Gary Martindale then smashed home from close range seconds later after another Baraclough effort was parried by Heyes, giving County the lead.

Forest finally received their penalty in the second period, when Gary Mills was tripped by Richardson. Replays showed that the foul was actually just outside the box.

Annoyed: Cherry confronted jemson after the match with Forest...

It was the verbally active Jemson who stepped up to slam the ball in off the crossbar to equalise.

Jemson scored again to condemn Notts to defeat when he miss-hit a shot into the bottom corner, latching onto a centred pass from Des Lyttle.

Tempers flared after the hotly contested match, as Cherry was seemingly upset by Jemson's persistent protesting throughout. The duo were dragged apart by team-mates, as County's 'keeper ranted angrily at the Forest striker.

Full Time: Nottingham Forest 3-2 Notts County

Last year's overall Masters winners, Leicester brushed aside Forest 5-1 in the final to claim their fourth consecutive Midlands title.

The Foxes will now go on to defend their title in September at the National finals in Birmingham.

Notts County Squad: Steve Cherry, Richard Dryden, Gary Martindale, Ian Baraclough, Alan Paris, Ian Richardson, Richard Walker, Gary Lund, Shaun Murray