Open debate hands Rovers fighting chance (From Stroud News and Journal)

Open debate hands Rovers fighting chance

Conference Canvey Island 1 Forest Green 1

FOREST GREEN manager Gary Owers and chairman Trevor Horsley decided to lay it on the line to their struggling side,who responded with a spirited point at Canvey.

Owers and Horsley dished out some choice words during a series of meetings last week and their players responded in positive fashion to give the Nailsworth side a large slice of fresh hope with just six games to go.

Owers said: "There have been a lot of choice words said at the club this week from chairman and myself and the players-we've all had it out with each other and it paid off, we can get out of trouble."

Earlier, Canvey were nearly in front inside three minutes when Ryan Clarke saved Lee Boylan's header from Dwayne Clarke's cross. Guy Madjo went close to ending his goal drought as his header smacked the bar.

Abdou Sall posed an aerial threat, but three minutes after the break Canvey took a controversial lead. Clarke's free-kick was adjudged to have been touched in by Ben Chenery, a goal that left Owers fuming.

He said: "The only person who thought the ball had crossed the line was the linesman standing 80 yards away. The free-kick given by the referee was a bad decision."

Parity came when Jay Conroy handled in the box and substitute Michael Brough took up the mantle from the penalty spot on 71 minutes.

Forest Green: Clarke, Taylor, Sall, Graham, Simpson, Jones, Beesley, Coleman (Brough 56), Searle, Meechan, Madjo.

Subs Not Used: Teixeira, Harrison (GK), Dove, Owers.

FOREST GREEN welcome league leaders Accrington Stanley to The Lawn on Friday (7.45pm).

SUPPORTERS are invited to a tour of the new stadium on Monday, April 10, 6pm.