Staying up (From Stroud News and Journal)

Staying up

SCENES of mass euphoria filled The Lawn on the last-and most dramatic day of the season-which saw Gary Owers' Forest Green stage a miraculous escape from relegation.

Owers' side had started the day bottom with survival out of their hands, but goals from the enigmatic Bruno Teixeira (43) and Julian Alsop (63) handed Rovers a 2-0 victory over play-off chasing Stevenage Borough, and when news filtered through that Tamworth and Scarborough could only draw, players and fans went berserk.

A clearly emotional Owers addressed the Rovers faithful, who gathered in front of The Trevor Horsley Stand to acclaim the team in the last ever match at The Lawn.

"It's been a long, drawn-out affair, but we're here on the last day and we've stayed up on merit, whatever anybody else wants to say," he said.

"It means we'll be moving into our new stadium as a Conference team.

"We've won the game quite comfortably - we couldn't do anything about the other teams, but the players came through."

The former Bath City manager reserved high praise for chairman Trevor Horsley and assistant manager Shaun Taylor.

He added: "A large part of the credit lies with the chairman. He's a massive part of this club, although he'll admit he's part of the team and relies on help from others.

"I also have to mention my assistant Shaun Taylor, who's been the most loyal and supportive number two anyone could wish for."

With only eight wins from 42 league games Owers is acutely aware for the need for improvement with four Conference teams set to go down next season.

"We know we'll have to improve next season, and work starts this week when I start trying to sign new players."

Earlier, Forest Green got their breakthrough just before the break when a Sekani Simpson pass from the right channel found Teixeira in the box and he sent the ball into the bottom-left of goal from the tightest of angles after his initial strike was saved.

Alsop doubled Forest Green's lead after the break, heading in a Damon Searle cross from the left wing.

However, Forest Green's Darren Jones picked up his second yellow card for violent conduct and former Forest Green striker Jefferson Louis was given his marching orders to reduce both teams to ten men.

Zema Abbey should have made it three near the end, but Forest Green had done more than enough to bring the final curtain down on the old ground.