Odejayi's second-half strike lifts Rovers out of relegation zone (From Stroud News and Journal)

Odejayi's second-half strike lifts Rovers out of relegation zone

IT all looks a lot brighter at The Lawn after two victories in succession pushed Rovers up to 18th in the table and lifted the morale and confidence of everyone connected at the club.

A 3-0 win last mid-week at Farnborough gave Rovers their third win of the season and this was followed up with a vital victory at home against Kettering Town.

Goals from Neil Grayson (penalty), Alex Sykes and Kayode Odejayi gave Rovers the win at Farnborough last Tuesday night.

Odejayi also scored the winner in Saturday's match against Kettering Town.

Manager Colin Addison has made two changes to his squad in the past seven days.

He has signed Darren Jones, a defender, on loan from Bristol City on a months loan and Matthew Russell has joined from Exeter also on a months loan.

Russell is a wing-back and he was previously with Addison at Scarborough.

Nationwide Conference Forest Green Rovers 1, Kettering Town 0

A goal seven minutes into the second half from Kayode Odejayi was enough to lift Forest Green Rovers two places above the relegation zone, writes Glenn Shepherd.

The Nigerian striker picked up a clearance from Darren Jones on the halfway line and found Martin Foster.

He broke down the left wing and flicked the ball through two defenders to Neil Grayson whose ball across the face of goal found Odejayi and he had the simple task of knocking the ball into the back of the net.

Up until that point the game itself had been far from pretty to watch with neither side taking control of the game.

Rovers did have an early scare with just under seven minutes gone when Lee Russell's headed clearance fell to Kettering winger Gez Murphy whose shot hit the side netting.

Forest Green's only real effort in the first half came after 22 minutes when Odejayi flicked on a throw in to Grayson but his left footed drive went well over the bar.

Kettering's Gary Hughes will feel he should have done better when his close range header from Dale Watkins cross was comfortably saved by Steve Perrin leaving both sides at a stalemate at half time.

Odejayi would soon give Rovers the lead, but he could have added a second after an hour when Martin Foster beat visiting captain Martin Matthews and sent a superb cross towards the back post.

Odejayi was waiting there but only to head the ball wide of the goal.

Kettering's best chance to equalise came six minutes from time when an indirect free kick was flicked on by Chris Perkins and Watkins header needed Perrin to palm the ball over the bar.

With Telford, Woking and Leigh RMI suffering defeats, Forest Green have found themselves lifted up to 18th position.

Rovers have two more important league games this week. First on Saturday they face Barnet at home (kick-off 3pm) then on Monday night they travel to Telford United. This match kicks-off at 7.45pm.

Captain Martin Foster will miss the Barnet clash through suspension after being sent-off in the recent home defeat against Stevenage Borough.