Nottingham Forest began their pre-season with victory following a 2-1 win over German .3 Bundesliga outfit Offenbach Kickers at the Berer Berg Stadion.

Manager Colin Calderwood decided to play virtually two different sides for each half and began with debuts for new signings Andrew Cole, Robert Earnshaw and Guy Moussi.

Trialist Stephen Hughes also started in the central of midfield in a 4-4-2 formation but it was Andrew Cole who came closest to opening the scoring. He turned his man on the edge of the penalty area before opening up his body and sending a curling right footed shot towards goal but his shot hit the crossbar and went out to safety.

Earnshaw and Cole were beginning to link up well but it was McCleary down the right-hand side who was causing most problems. Earnshaw went through one-on-one with the goalkeeper but shot straight at him when it seemed certain he would score.

It was former Bromley winger Garath McCleary who opened the scoring and what a superb goal it was too. After beating one man he struck a magnificent right footed effort that flew into the top corner and may have even clipped the underside of the bar from all of 25 yards.

Moussi, who signed from Angers last month for £280,000, was beginning to command the midfield by sitting just in front of the back four and it was impressive to see him constantly wanting the ball and starting off attacks in a 'Makelele' type of way.

England Under 19 international James Reid started on the left of midfield but also drifted inside sometimes leaving Joe Heath at left-back with two men in what was a rather nervy looking performance from the full back.

Offenbach, despite being relegated last season, looked a decent outfit and came close to testing Paul Smith with a shot that flew narrowly over the bar. Smith was mainly however not needed except a couple of punches from crosses that he dealt with pretty convincingly.

The Reds, playing in their black kit, went into the interval at half-time leading 1-0 and made eight substitutions. It wasn't long into the second period though before they extended their lead.

Arron Davies, who struggled through injury last season, was causing havoc down the left wing cutting inside and he did just that again before rifling a low shot into the keepers' bottom right corner to make it 2-0.

Kelvin Wilson was booked for a unorthadox challenge on the half way line but may feel aggreived as McCleary was caught by a similar challenge in the first half which their player wasn't cautioned for.

Luke Chambers may also have been in trouble with the referee had he seen the incident where an off-the-ball clash resulted in their player flat on the floor and the home fans jeering every Forest touch.

Nathan Tyson showed that he hasn't lost any of his pace over the summer after beating one of their defenders to the ball down the left after about a ten yard head-start. The full back was no slouch as well.

Forest won quite a few corners in the second half with Cohen doing the honours but because of the fact beer was allowed in your seats at the ground, the second half begins to unfortunately turn into a bit of a blur.

The Kickers fans were enjoying themselves though and set off a brilliant red flare on the far side of the ground. Offenbach did manage to grab a goal in the 90th minute with a simple headed tap-in on the line to beat Dale Roberts but all-in-all it was a good test and workout for the lads and indeed the travelling Forest supporters.

MOTM: Arron Davies

Forest Line-up and substitutions:

GK: Paul Smith -----> Dale Roberts

RB: Luke Chambers

CB: Ian Breckin -----> Kelvin Wilson

CB: James Perch

LB: Joe Heath

MR: Garath McCleary -----> Chris Cohen

CM: Guy Moussi -----> Lewis McGugan

CM: Stephen Hughes -----> Matt Thornhill

ML: James Reid -----> Arron Davies

ST: Andrew Cole -----> Emile Sinclair

ST: Robert Earnshaw -----> Nathan Tyson

Injured: Paul Anderson, Julian Bennett, Wes Morgan (Emile Sinclair afterwards in the changing room because of Thornhill bizarrely??)