A DYNASTY was continued as Tyler Walker, son of Nottingham Forest legend Des, enjoyed his first taste of glory at the City Ground.
A fine team performance helped the Reds to a 3-2 win over MK Dons and a place in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.
But it needed extra time – and a fine goal from striker Walker – to finally seal a hard fought victory.
Oliver Burke was denied in the opening seconds, by a smart save from keeper Andrew McCorkell and that set the tone for what was to follow.
Tim Erlandsson was making his second start for the Forest under-18 side, having joined recently from Swedish side Halmstads – and made a number of outstanding saves.
McCorkell was beaten first, in the tenth minute, after a foul on Matthew Cash earned a free-kick right on the edge of the box, which Jack Kelly lashed powerfully through the wall and low into the bottom corner of the net. But, after that, the MK Dons stopper kept Forest at bay.
Walker might have made it 2-0 after neatly controlling a superb cross from Burke on his chest, but lashed over the bar. While a determined run from the lively Gerry McDonagh took him through three challenges and into the box, only for the keeper to save bravely at his feet.
Forest survived a dangerous goal mouth scramble before, shortly after, the visitors levelled, as Kelly scored at the wrong end of the pitch. There was little the full back could do, as he slid in desperately to clear Gedeon Okito's driven cross towards the far post, in the 18th minute.
McCorkell made two outstanding saves in the space of 30 seconds, pushing away a McDonagh shot for corner, before then diving to parry a Frederik Nielson header from the resulting corner. Erlandsson produced heroics of his own at the other end, denying Tshimanga in a one-on-one.
Forest were slightly unfortunate to find themselves behind at the interval, as Ben Tilney drove home a shot from six yards at the far post, to give MK Dons the lead in injury time.
But it was the visitors who pushed again following the restart, with Erlandsson showing his potential with an outstanding save from Giorgio Rasulo. Forest came close as a Luke Thomas header was deflected narrowly wide and, from the corner, Alex Iacovitti's header was saved again by McCorkell.
Joe Worrall and Iacovitti were both booked in the space of a minute, while Cash forced the best out of McCorkell again with a fierce low shot.
Forest did level with seven minutes to play, as Burke fired in a fine ball from the right, to pick out sub Walton, who converted calmly from a few yards out. It was the Reds who then looked likely to win, with Walker denied by a fine save, amid a quick flurry of chances. Although the striker also lifted another good opening over.
In extra time, McDonagh was denied again by the outstanding McCorkell, who saved bravely at his feet. But the keeper was finally beaten in the 111th minute as, from the periphery of the box, Walker smashed an unstoppable finish high into the corner.
Forest: Erlandsson, Worrall, Kelly, Crookes (Karo 110), Nielson (Yates 50), Iacovitti, Burke, Cash, McDonagh, Walker, Thomas (Walton 67). Subs: Dearle, Karo, Worthington.
MK Dons: McCorkell, Daffern, Okito, Hadden, Tingey, Hunt, Vaughan (Owusu 79), Wiltshire (Steele 112), Tshimanga, Rasulo, Tilney. Subs: Wyant, Weston, Brittain.
Referee: Harry Hawkins. Allowed the game to flow and generally did a good job. One of the better referees seen at the City Ground this season.
Man of match: Gerry McDonagh. The striker was one of several Forest players to produce promising performances.
