Rovers edge nearer to safety (From Stroud News and Journal)

Rovers edge nearer to safety

THE signing of a new striker and a second league victory in a row has lifted morale and boosted confidence at Forest Green this week.

Nigel Spinks team are edging ever nearer to another season in the Nationwide Conference after a superb 4-3 victory at Woking on Saturday.

Spink also brought a fresh face into the squad when he signed former Shrewsbury Town attacker Chris Freestone on a non-contract basis in time for Saturdays match. Freestone was named as a substitute at Woking and he came on for his Rovers debut when he replaced Alex Meechan late on in the match.

The 30-year-old was released by Third Division Shrewsbury recently and has been playing in the Dr Martens League Eastern Division for Rugby United.

Nationwide Conference Woking 3, Forest Green 4

Two free-kicks from Mark Cooper and strikes by Alex Sykes and Alex Meechan gave Rovers a very important victory at Woking last Saturday.

Cooper again showed how dangerous he is from set pieces when he scored his 11th and 12th goals of the season while Sykes scored his first Rovers goal this season.

Alex Meechan also rediscovered his scoring touch with his first goal since early January. Rovers started slowly in this match and went one-nil down in the third minute when Chris Sharpling shot home from inside the area.

But Forest Green responded well to this and were level within eight minutes. Meechan took advantage of a long kick from Steve Perrin and shot past Woking goalkeeper Tony Tucker.

The first-half remained all square at 1-1 but it did not take Rovers long to take the lead in the second-half.

Rovers edged in front after 49 minutes when Sykes scored with a magnificant effort - a 30 yard shot that flew past Tucker and into the net.

Spinks side then gave themselves some breathing space in the 58th minute when Cooper blasted home a free-kick to make the score 3-1.

Sharpling netted his second to give Woking hope but Cooper scored his second when his free-kick was deflected in.

Woking reduced the deficit to one goal when former Yeovil Town striker Warren Patmore scored a penalty but the home side could not force the equaliser. Rovers have re-arranged their home against Leigh RMI for Saturday March 16, kick-off 3pm and they will play Stalybridge Celtic away on March 26.