Stern John produced a timely first league goal of the season for play-off hopefuls Nottingham Forest.

The Trinidad and Tobago international has struggled all season with injuries and lack of form in his bid to make an impact at the City Ground.

But he was on hand in the 24th minute to score the goal that earned Forest three precious points in their quest to finish the season in the top six.

After skipper Chris Bart-Williams had crossed to the far post, Andy Gray knocked the ball back into the six-yard area and John was perfectly positioned to nod the ball past Stockport keeper Lee Jones.

It could have been so different had relegation-battlers Stockport not been guilty of one of the misses of the season just five minutes earlier.

Finnish international Shefki Kuqi, a handful for Forest all afternoon, opened up the home side on the left.

And when Shane Nicholson delivered a cross to the far post, Jarkko Wiss some how managed to lift his effort over the bar from little more than a yard out.

It was an incredible let-off for Forest and John's goal ignited a period of pressure that could have lead to them extending their lead.

They were denied a penalty when Robert Clare blatantly handled and two minutes later Dave Johnson sent a flashing header just wide of the far post following a free-kick from Bart-Williams.

But Stockport settled down and came back into the game, and before half-time Kuqi had chances to put the visitors back on level terms.

A mistake by Chris Doig let him in for a shot that he blazed over the bar and seconds before the break he shrugged off a challenge by Jon Olav Hjelde but screwed his effort wide of the post.

As the second half progressed Forest's anxiety was clear for all to see and goal keeper Dave Beasant had to be alive to keep out an angled effort from Peter Clark.

Then 15 minutes from time the big keeper produced another fine save to deny substitute Brian Carrigan and keep Forest right on the edge of the play-offs.

Teams:

Nottm Forest Beasant, Edds, Hjelde, Bart-Williams, Doig, Gray, Prutton, Scimeca, Andy Johnson, John (Harewood 68), David Johnson.

Subs Not Used: Roche, Vaughan, Edwards, Jones.

Booked: Scimeca, Bart-Williams.

Goals: John 25.

Stockport Jones, Clark (Bergersen 82), Flynn, Clare, Gibb, Wiss (Byrne 88), Fradin, Nicholson, Hurst (Carrigan 68), Wilbraham, Kuqi.

Subs Not Used: Dibble, Woodthorpe.

Booked: Hurst, Wiss.

Att: 23,500

Ref: A Wiley (Burntwood).