TOWN captain Jon Worthington and fellow midfielders Chris Brandon and Adnan Ahmed all got valuable gametime as the Reserves were held by Nottingham Forest at the Galpharm.

Worthington, fit again after a hernia operation and hoping to figure in Saturday's big League I derby at Bradford, played the opening 45 minutes of the Pontin's Holidays League Central Division clash.

Brandon, back after an ankle problem, featured for 65 and Ahmed, who fractured a foot in pre-season, played all but the last five.

Town had the better of the first half before Forest created chances of their own in the second.

Joe Skarz tested Forest keeper Rune Pedersen with a well-struck free-kick in the fifth minute.

Then Ahmed had a shot from the edge of the area blocked.

Pedersen produced an acrobatic save to deny Tom Clarke, who got a powerful header to Mitchell Bailey's 25th-minute cross.

Then the stopper climbed high to tip a James Hand curler over the bar.

Town also had the first genuine chance of the second half, with Brandon's shot skidding through a ruck of bodies and going just wide.

But Forest were gaining in confidence, and Paul Rachubka had to be alert to deny defender Mamza Benchrif on 57 minutes.

Rachubka then produced an excellent close-range save from Kevin James in the 72nd minute.

Player-coach Martyn Booty cleared off the line from James with 10 minutes remaining.

Town: Rachubka, Berrett, Skarz, Ahmed (Codman, 85mins), McCombe, Clarke (T), Bailey, Worthington (Booty, HT), Akins, Brandon (Broadbent, 65mins), Hand.

Subs not used: Eastwood, Roberts.