Forest Green 2

Southport 1

FOREST Green’s stunning start to the Vanarama National League season shows no sign of faltering as the leaders racked- up their ninth consecutive victory.

The league record-breakers made light work of struggling Southport to top the table with an incredible 27 points out of a possible 27 to extend their lead at the summit to eight points.

First half strikes from Aaron O’Connor and Keanu Marsh-Brown saw the table-toppers win again.

Rovers made one change, leading scorer O’Connor reclaimed his place ahead of Jon Parkin after notching the winner at Chester – replacing Jon Parkin.

After an inauspicious start, Rovers hit the ground running on 11 minutes. In their first meaningful attack,all-action Sam Wedgbury clipped a ball into the box and the unmarked O’Connor banked his sixth goal of the season with a routine finish.

It was O’Connor who played his part in Rovers’ 21st minute second. He was the recipient of a heavy Andrew Wright challenge, but play was allowed to flow with Kurtis Guthrie releasing the fleet-footed Marsh-Brown, who struck home with unerring velocity for Rovers’ second.

Pennock’s team were at their swashbuckling best. Guthrie created space to fizz in a 30 yard strike that was impressively fingered over by Southport’s Andy Coughlin.

Any threat from Southport was dealt with impeccably by a rock-solid defence, which has been the cornerstone of Rovers’ 100 per cent start to the season.

Rovers started the second half in hungry fashion – Marsh-Brown stinging the hands of Coughlin from the edge of the box and then volleying just wide following neat play from O’Connor and Elliott Frear.

In a rare Southport attack, Foster clipped the bar, to remind Rovers their 2-0 lead was far from safe.

Rovers were hunting a game over third and Wedgbury saw two strikes thwarted by Foster.

Southport were beginning to find their feet. However, Jonny Maxted was alert to block an attack from a short Wedgbury back-pass.

Southport’s second half improvement saw the Sandgrounders bag a 76th minute goal. Rob Sinclair did well to head Foster’s header off the line, but Andrew Wright stabbed home the free ball.

Wedgbury offered some breathing space as his curler kissed the crossbar from a Frear assist with six minutes to go.

Desperate Rovers defending and a glove stinging Maxted safe from Michael Phenix enabled Pennock’s side to preserve their unbeaten start.

Forest Green: J Maxted, D Pipe (c), M Kelly, D Bennett , A Racine, S Wedgbury ,R Sinclair, K Guthrie, A O’Connor ( J Parkin 82), K Marsh-Brown ( D Sam Yorke 79), E Frear (D Jones 90).

Subs not used: C Clough, C Kamdjo.

Attendance: 1,535

Star Man: A number of candidates, but unsung hero Sam Wedgbury shades it for an all-action midfield display.