Woods chops down Forest

Michael Woods provided Chelsea with some Christmas cheer by scoring twice to send his side through to the Fourth Round.

On a cold and foggy night at Aldershot's Recreation Ground, the England Under-17 midfielder netted either side of half-time to seal a trip to Anfield.

The final score, however, was a little harsh on the visitors who did their best to warm the cockles of the chilling spectators brave enough to pass on an evening of festive television and mince pies.

Forest had the first opening on seven minutes when Jack Cork, an England youth international, played a poor square pass which was intercepted by Ben Fairclough. The midfielder opted not to shoot early, perhaps wrongly, and was eventually forced too wide to test Rhys Taylor.

With Academy Director Nick Marshall imploring his charges to continue passing, Forest were inches away from taking the lead, Fairclough crashing the ball against the bar from close range.

With the rapidly descending thick fog creating an eerie atmosphere, James Reid did his best to lift the gloom with some darting runs down the left flank. Forest boss Colin Calderwood, watching in the stand, would have been impressed.

Chelsea shuddered into life midway through the half when Ben Sahar raced clear. But Paddy Gamble, until now a virtual spectator, careered off his line to smoother at the Chelsea man's feet.

It was the home side who fashioned the next chance when Woods surged through the middle of the Forest defence before playing in Scott Sinclair. But, rather than hitting the bullseye, the winger sliced horribly towards a perimeter board advertising the World Darts Championship at the nearby Lakeside.

Forest responded by forcing three corners in quick quick succession but it was from open play that they should have taken the lead on 39 minutes.

Ryan Whitehurst was rewarded for chasing down a lost cause, sliding to keep the ball in play before crossing into a congested penalty area. The ball fell invitingly for Matthew Thornhill but he could not keep his shot down.

The talented Woods showed how to execute the perfect shot on the stroke of half-time to put Chelsea ahead. After Forest failed to clear their lines, the midfielder lashed the ball across the helpless Gamble and into the bottom corner.

It was a little harsh on the Reds, who had matched their hosts with some attractive play, but football can be a cruel mistress as Woods proved five minutes after the break.

Fabio Ferreira, a fleet-footed winger in the mould of Cristiano Ronaldo, and with the tricks to match, played in Woods who calmly lifted the ball high into the net.

It should have been 3-0 moments later when Ryan Bertrand, recently returned to the club after a loan spell at Bournemouth, found himself with some space only to be denied by a smart save from Gamble.

Both teams traded chances, with Joseph Heath forcing Taylor to palm wide while at the other end Ferreira scampered clear and drilled at Gamble who did well to hold.

Chelsea: Taylor, Hutchinson, Worley, Cork, Bertrand, Bridcutt, Ferreira (Neilsen 65), Woods, Sahar (Cummings 90), Fernandes, Sinclair.
Subs: Twumasi, Tejera, Stoch.

Nottingham Forest: Gamble, Treacy, Heath, McGugan, Moloney, Sharpe, Fairclough (Collins 81), Thornhill, Newbold, Whitehurst, Reid
Collins, Staples, Redmond, Mitchell, Hopkinson.