The Bolt New Lawn Saturday 11th March 2023
Forest Green Rovers 1
Savage (12)
Bristol Rovers 3
Marquis (18 & 61), Sinclair (25)
Referee: Scott Oldham Attendance: 4,788
This game pitted Everton fan Joe Barton against Everton legend Duncan Ferguson, yet to win a game as Forest Green manager.
The fan made one change to his side as Josh Coburn came in for Finley, who had been unwell, and Luke McCormick was recalled to the bench in place of the on loan striker.
On a cold, wet afternoon at what is now, apparently, the second highest ground in the English Football league, the hosts took the lead after only 12 minutes.
The goalscorer was Charlie Savage (son of Robbie), who took a pass from Jordon Garrick and hit a stunning shot from 15 yards out. Although James Belshaw got a touch to it, he was unable to keep the ball out of the net.
The hosts had given their all in that opening salvo and once they went ahead they seemed to run out of steam. Gradually forced on the defensive by Barton’s side, it came as little surprise when the equaliser arrived six minutes later.
Coburn comfortably won the ball in the middle of the Forest Green half and fed a pass to Aaron Collins. He, in turn, played in John Marquis who had time to control the ball and steady himself for a left foot shot which easily beat goalkeeper Lewis Thomas.
At that point, and for the rest of the opening 45 minutes it was a stroll in the park (or on the lawn!) for the Rovers of Bristol and they deservedly edged in front in what was fast becoming a one sided contest after 25 minutes.
Played in down the right by the impressive Lamare Bogarde, Sinclair rifled a shot towards goal which was blocked by Thomas. However the rebound fell kindly to the Rovers man and he comfortably slotted the ball back past the beleaguered keeper.
Coburn, Marquis and Collins all had chances to increase the lead before the break, but their efforts were all wide of the mark which was a let off for the home side who already looked well beaten.
It was more of the same in the second half, with the home side enjoying possession but lacking a cutting edge while Barton’s side looked to be playing well within themselves.
The third goal, just after the hour mark, really should have killed the game off. Marquis was again the man on target, when he was left unmarked in the area and nonchalantly glanced a header past Thomas from Sinclair’s left wing corner.
As we entered the final ten minutes Barton made a double substitution sending on McCormick for Collins and Ryan Loft for Marquis. In the case of McCormick the substitution almost backfired as the midfielder, who has struggled to recapture his best form all season, was yellow carded for a foul at one end of the pitch a minute after going on.
It got worse, as a couple of minutes later he gave away a penalty at the other end and was mightily relieved to see Belshaw dive low down to his right to keep out Corey O’Keefe’s spot kick.
To add insult to injury he was then hooked by his manager after spending just nine minutes on the pitch.
Forest Green Rovers: Thomas, Bernard (Cargill, 86), Godwin-Maliffe, Cooper, Robson, McGeouch (Bunker, 86), Peart-Harris (O’Brien, 86), Savage, O’Keefe, Garrick (McAllister, 62), Bakayoko (Omotoye, 46).
Substitute: Doohan
Bristol Rovers: Belshaw, Hoole, Quansah, Gibson, Gordon, Bogarde (Connolly, 89), Ward, Sinclair, Collins (McCormick, 80) (Whelan, 89), Marquis (Loft, 80), Coburn (Evans, 63).
Substitutes: Balcombe, Gibbons.
ALSO
Former Rovers player Ian Weston is Forest Green’s physio
Yellow cards Lamare Bogarde, John Marquis, Luke McCormick
Aaron Collins was skipper and then Antony Evans when he was substituted
Five substitutes used
Seven added minutes
(photos courtesy of JMP)
Keith Brookman