Relegation dogfight goes to the wire (From Stroud News and Journal)

Relegation dogfight goes to the wire

Conference Accrington Stanley 2 Forest Green Rovers 2

A PRICELESS three points turned into one as Forest Green were denied a victory that would have seen Alan Lewer's relegation threatened side climb out of the bottom three.

Rovers led thanks to Mark Beesley's 73rd minute strike, cancelling out Accrington Stanley's 56th minute opener after Charlie Griffin netted 65th minute parity. Paul Mullins' goal four minutes from time took the gloss off a spirited Rovers display that belied their current status. In fact, Rovers could have even snatched victory at the death through Griffin.

Lewer's team began brightly on a biting Lancashire day; Rovers looked assured and took the game to a Stanley side that started the day in second place.

Beesley's 25-yard drive served Rovers' intention, as did Darren Davies' fizzing strike. However, the pattern changed on the cusp of the interval with Dean Williams reacting well to deny a Stanley foray.

A blizzard greeted the players after the break, but it was Stanley who took the storm to Rovers. A quickly taken free-kick caught Rovers out for Cavanagh to strike.

Rovers' responded and drew level on 65 minutes; Matt Gadsby's skidding strike was spilled, leaving Griffin to sweep in his 15th Conference goal of the season. Eight minutes on and Rovers were 2-1 up.

Gadsby picked out Beesley who finished with clinical precision. Jon Richardson, Griffin and Gadsby had further chances, but Stanley snatched a point in the dying embers of the game.

* FOREST GREEN are without a game this Saturday. Rovers' next game will see Lewer's side travel to Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday, March 19.