Rovers looking for cup solace (From Stroud News and Journal)

Rovers looking for cup solace

Nationwide Conference Stevenage Borough 2, Forest Green Rovers 1

GARY OWERS will be hoping for some respite from the rigors of a spiralling Conference campaign when he takes his struggling Forest Green Rovers side to Gary Hill's Nationwide South leaders Weymouth in the FA Trophy first round this Saturday.

At time of going to press, Rovers were due to face Burton Albion at The Lawn last night (Tuesday).

Meanwhile, Rovers fell to their fourth consecutive Conference defeat at Stevenage last Saturday, a result that left Owers fuming.

He said: "It was another disappointing performance from us. 'We played some really good stuff in the first half but, one again, we were making the same old mistakes."

Owers' men deserved their early lead when Ben Harding's 20-yard strike was deflected past Alan Julian to hand the visitors a fourth-minute lead.

Earlier, the Nailsworth club had made three changes to their starting line-up, bringing in Paul Wanless, Zema Abbey and Luke Graham for Guy Madjo, Abdou Sall and Ryan Harley, who has returned to Bristol City.

Holding an early advantage, Rovers almost increased their tally, but Abbey couldn't quite force the ball home.

Stevenage settled, but found Ryan Clarke in defiant mood. On three occasions, Clarke was called on to make three outstanding fingertip saves.

However, Borough found parity after the break, Jon Nurse beating the offside trap to roll the ball past Clarke on 55 minutes.

Stevenage pressure continued with Clarke having to watch on as his post was rattled twice.

A second and ultimately winning goal arrived on 74 minutes when Barry Laker rose to nod in a Danny Williams' corner.