Depleted Rovers fall to Pounder double strike (From Stroud News and Journal)

Depleted Rovers fall to Pounder double strike

Scarborough Town 3, Forest Green 0 AN injury-ravaged Forest Green side proved no match for a Scarborough outfit who went two goals up inside the opening seven minutes and never looked back on Saturday.

Rovers, without a suspended Darren Jones and injury victims Neil Grayson and Matt Russell, came under the cosh from the start and were two goals down before they had time to settle thanks to two brilliant strikes by David Pounder.

Pounder pounced first in the second minute chesting down a cross to send an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net past helpless keeper Steve Perrin.

Five minutes later Pounder smashed home his second and a rout looked on the cards but Rovers gradually began to regain some composure although their attacks were few and far between.

They should have reduced the arrears before the half-time interval when Scarborough defender Dave Ridler was adjudged to have handled in the box, but Alex Meechan's spot kick lacked power or direction and was saved by home keeper Andy Woods.

Rovers enjoyed more of the play after the break and managed to put Scarborough under increasing pressure at the back. But invariably they were let down by a poor final delivery.

Scarborough still looked the more potent attacking side and eventually made sure of the points with a superb solo goal by Cleveland Taylor who set off on a dazzling run down the left flank before cutting inside and easily beating Perrin with a precise 15-yard drive.

Kettering 2, Forest Green 3 TWO goals from Steve Cowe, his first for the club inspired Forest Green to their 16th league win of the season and sent Kettering tumbling out of the Nationwide Conference last Tuesday.

Cowe, making a rare start in place of hamstring victim Neil Grayson opened his account with a clever goal in the 20th minute, latching on to a cross from Martin Foster to lob the ball neatly over home keeper William Gourlay.

Kettering equalised when Darren Jones brought down Craig Norman in the box and he got up to send Steve Perrin the wrong way from the spot.

Gary Owers and Meechan both drove shots over the bar as Rovers threatened to regain the lead and they did so soon after the break when Cowe ran through to beat Gourlay for his second.

Meechan then made it 3-1 from the penalty spot in the 58th minute after Jones was fouled by Kettering's Lee Clarke and although substitute Niall Inman reduced the arrears in injury time Rovers held on to the points.