Classy Stein has field day at lawn (From Stroud News and Journal)

Classy Stein has field day at lawn

Forest Green Rovers 2, Dagenham & Redbridge 4

FOREST Green Rovers were outbattled and outclassed against a far superior Dagenham & Redbridge at the Lawn on Saturday.

Dagenham's close season signing Mark Stein, a former Premiership player with Chelsea, was the difference between the two sides with a brace of goals.

Forest Green manager Nigel Spink said: "We have played two very good teams in the last two weeks, Boston and Dagenham, and they are going to be up there.

I thought that we defended poorly but up until half-time I was quite optimistic that in the second half we would come out and perform.

We haven't really passed the ball well in the second-half, they've been mentally tougher and in all fairness they've deserved the victory."

Both teams went close in the opening stages of the match.

After four minutes Stein went through but Perrin saved his shot.

Minutes later Forest Green striker Nathan Lightbody had a deflected shot saved by Daggers keeper Tony Roberts.

Daggers captain Mark Brennan was influential throughout the match and it was he who opened the scoring in the 34th minute.

The left-footer caught Perrin unaware with a quickly taken free-kick that curled into the top corner.

Despite falling behind, Forest Green were level within six minutes.

Simon Futcher's cross found the unmarked Carl Heggs who touched the ball past Roberts.

Heggs and Stein both looked very dangerous in attack for either side.

Heggs held the ball up well against a very strong Dagenham defence and Stein always looked like scoring when given the chance.

It was Stein who put his side back in front with a superbly taken goal after 53 minutes. Stein was played into the area and he smashed his shot into the bottom left corner.

The visitors started to show-off their class and were lucky not to concede a penalty-kick when Lightbody was brought down inside the area, but the referee ignored the Forest Green pleas.

Dagenham extended their lead with a penalty of their own through substitute Steve McGavin after 82 minutes then in the final minute Stein scored his second of the match following a slick move.

Spink introduced Tony Daley in the final minutes and he immediately made an impact.

Matt Jones brought down the tricky winger and a penalty was given.

Heggs stepped up to side foot the ball in.

Despite the penalty decision going against them Spink knew when the turning point was.

He said: "The goal knocked the stuffing out of us when we went two-one down and we didn't recover from that.

"A few heads went down and as I've said to the players that's the mental toughness we have got to get.

"Dagenham came second in the Conference last year and they've added very good players to their squad."

TEAMS Forest Green Rovers: Perrin, Cousins, Impey, Cooper (c), Howey, Allen, Shaw, Lightbody, Heggs, Meechan, Futcher. Subs: Daley, Middleton, Adams, Glassop.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Roberts, Heffer, Vickers, Lock, Smith, Brennan (c), Janney, Terry, Shipp, Stein, Jones. Subs: Vaughan, Hayzelden, McGavin, Forbes, Gothart.

Attendence: 651 Referee: Mr A Conn (Herts).