Inept Roverrs fail to show any fight (From Stroud News and Journal)

Inept Roverrs fail to show any fight

FOREST GREEN boss Gary Owers is not a man in the managerial mode of Sven Goran Erikson, so make no mistake the air would have probably been significantly blue in the confines of the Forest Green dressing room on Saturday night.

The softly, softly approach would certainly not have been used after Owers and Shaun Taylor witnessed a wretched, lack-lustre display. Two goals were handed to York on a plate, and despite Bruno Teixeira's first competitive goal, Rovers were just not good enough.

Owers admitted he was disappointed by his Rovers' display - and he wasn't the only one.

"There was a little lack of belief, which is strange," said Owers.

" We have talked to the players and made it clear that we would come down hard on them if they slipped behind the high standards that they had set in the first six games. Certain individuals didn't take responsibility today."

Earlier, four corners in as many minutes gave Rovers a bright opening.

However, it was Ryan Clarke who earned warm applause as his quick feet allowed him to palm up a booming Chris Porter kick that had fizzed up like an Andrew Flintoff delivery to Shane Warne.

York's neat approach was proving fruitful. Joe O'Neill got away from Sekani Simpson, but Clarke's movement quashed the opportunity.

Devoid of construction Rovers went 1-0 down on 16 minutes. Luke Graham, who endured a wretched day as the injured Damon Searle's deputy, put his side under pressure as he conceded a corner. His agony was compounded as Paul Wanless and Clarke cancelled each other out for James Dudgeon to nod home.

Rovers' route one approach was going nowhere, but in a rare passage of cohesion Jon Beswetherick's shot was blocked after neat play from Scott Rogers and the willing Alex Meechan. A wretched half ended with the out of sorts Zema Abbey firing wide.

It didn't get much better after the break. Wanless saw his header turned away from a Graham free-kick, but worse was to follow. Beswetherick lost the ball after a corner broke down.

York captain Emmanuel Panther broke forward and as Rovers struggled to get back, Mark Convey swept home a goal that had error strewn all over it.

Moments later Clarke did well to claw away a Panther stinger. Teixeria and Jamie Gosling's introduction lifted Rovers from their collective slumber.

A late rally saw Teixeria crash home Meechan's cross. At the death Jon Richardson and Abbey both had chances to snatch an undeserved point.