ALGERIAN Hamza Bencherif helped Nottingham Forest reserves get back to winning ways – after flourishing in an unfamiliar midfield role.

The big central defender struck to earn the Reds a 1-0 win against Walsall at Tamworth – and could have had more goals.

The 6ft 2in 21-year-old struck in the second half to secure victory, after finishing a move he had started with a neat left-foot finish in the 55th minute.

The cross for his goal was provided by winger Arron Davies, who was continuing his comeback from injury, playing his second reserve game in the space of a week.

The Welshman is now on course to contest for a place in the squad when the first team travel to face Barnsley in a critical relegation battle on Saturday, April 4.

But it was Bencherif, who is likely to be allowed to leave the club in the summer, who grabbed the limelight.

The Algerian under-21 international almost scored in the first half with a superb strike on the half-volley that forced the Walsall keeper into a fine save.

Ryan Whitehurst and Davies, who played the full 90 minutes, also went close to scoring as Forest recovered from successive defeats at the hands of Shrewsbury and Mansfield. And it was enough to impress coach John Pemberton, who praised his side for coming to terms with a difficult, bouncing pitch.

"Conditions were difficult because the match was played on a rock hard pitch that made it difficult to get the ball down and play a passing game," said Pemberton. "But we adapted well, defended a lot better than we have been doing and were well worth the win."

Forest reserves are in action again on Wednesday (April 1) at Lincoln City (2pm).

FOREST: Gamble, Tait, Heath, Bencherif, Mitchell, Sharpe, Davies, Hook, Newbold (Hopkinson), Whitehurst (Moke), Reid. Subs not used: Rodney, Darlow, Diagne.