STEPHEN Darby made his playing return for Wanderers in the Under-23s last night as they slipped to a 3-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest.

The full-back has been out for a month with a hamstring injury but made a solid return on the right side of defence for David Lee’s side.

Chris Regis, a 20-year-old midfielder who was once on the books at Arsenal and Southampton, was also given a trial.

Wanderers fell behind after 17 minutes when a trip by Regis on Keiran Hayes gave Aaron Smith a chance to covert from the penalty spot.

Jack Earing then hit the post with a shot from distance but Connor Hall eventually drew his side level with a well-taken header which kissed the underside of the crossbar on its way past George Shelvey.

The Whites were creating chances, and Hall went close to turning in Joe Muscatt’s low cross, but it was Forest who seized the advantage before half time when Ethan Stewart powered home at the far post from Toby Edser’s corner.

Again, Wanderers looked dangerous after the break, Hall blasting a shot straight at keeper Shelvey after going through one-on-one and Alex Perry seeing a header hooked off the line.

But the final word went to Forest as Virgil Gomis produced a smart finish into the bottom corner.

Wanderers: Aspinall, Darby (Morris 66), Muscatt, Edwards, Brockbank, Regis, Politic, Perry, Hall, White, Earing. Not used: Johnson, Navarro, Fearnley, Lonsdale