Checkatrade Trophy

CHELTENHAM TOWN 1

FOREST GREEN 2

By Liam Lines

FOREST GREEN took the first 'El Glosico' bragging rights of the season against Cheltenham Town as teenager Jordan Stevens stepped off the bench to hit the winner.

The home side took the lead after the break through Bristol City loanee Freddie Hinds, but Forest Green responded through a 79th minute Reece Brown goal and a minute later 17-year-old substitute Stevens won it for Rovers. And with eight minutes left, ex-Forest Green striker Danny Wright was sent off.

Rovers now top the group with six points. The other two teams in the group, Swansea and Newport, meet next Wednesday.

Earlier Forest Green boss Mark Cooper made just two changes from the team that lost to Accrington. With a trip to high-flying Notts County on Saturday, Cooper rested captain Lee Collins (groin), with Jack Fitzwater coming into the side.

Cheltenham Town boss Gary Johnson made it clear he wanted his side to continue their unbeaten run of five matches but decided to make eight changes with Kyle Storer, Taylor Moore and Danny Wright were the only players to remain from the win against Chesterfield.

Forest Green's Christian Doidge came closest early on, as he hit the post after a threaded pass from Charlie Cooper and as the ball trickled across the line his second attempt from the angle reached Isaiah Osbourne who couldn’t convert with a header.

As both teams continued to leave space in midfield, Cheltenham replied with an effort from Hinds as his effort from the edge of the box curled wide.

Cooper was next up as he missed a guilt-edged chance, after James was set free and centred to Doidge in the centre but his shot was saved by Jonathan Flatt, who couldn’t believe his luck.

Wright had the chance to put the home side in front but he couldn’t keep Moore’s cross down as he headed over.

With ten minutes to half-time, Forest Green had failed to take advantage of some poor ball retention from Cheltenham. Doidge again had a shot deflected with Cooper unable to connect on the loose ball. James was again denied by Flatt as Dale Bennett’s through ball set James clear from the angle.

Town had their share of opportunities and Bristol City loanee Hinds was central to most attacks. Drissa Traore lost possession in Rovers’ half and Jerell Sellars caused havok in the Rovers’ defence but the move ended with Hinds header well over.

As Bristol City manager Lee Johnson watched, Hinds took full advantage of a Rovers mistake and fired from an angle, 33-yards out past Sam Russell.

Rovers continued to struggle for a clear opportunity and Doidge had another deflected effort from the edge, whistle past the post, before being replaced.

The Rovers backline would have been shaking at the knees as Mohamed Eisa, who has scored eight goals in eight games had an instant impact from the bench. He fired at Russell from the edge and seconds later form a tight angle forced Russell to save again from several yards out. Wright would score the rebound but was ruled out.

The match sparked into life with ten minutes remaining. Brown stepped up and from the edge of the box fired a low strike beyond Flatt into the bottom corner. Minutes later, subs Bugiel and academy product Stevens countered with pace and Stevens strike went straight through Flatt as he was left unsighted by Matthew Bower.

Cheltenham went down to ten as Bugiel and Wright clashed and as Wright stood up he was judged to have stamped on the forward.

Cheltenham could have levelled as Russell was found in no man’s land but Eisa’s shot from the corner flag, hit the post.

Cheltenham Town (3-5-2): J Flatt; A Davey, W Boyle, M Bower; T Moore, K Storer (C Winchester 56), N Atangana, J Sellars (J Grimes 72), J Cranston; D Wright, F Hinds (M Eisa 64).

Subs not used: R Lovett, B Graham, G Lloyd.

Forest Green: (4-4-2): S Russell; D Bennett, J Fitzwater, M Roberts, D Wishart (A Iacovitti 90); C Cooper (J Stevens 76), D Traore, R Brown, I Osbourne; L James, C Doidge (O Bugiel 73).

Subs not used: B Collins, S Laird, S Mullings, W Randall.

Star Man: Reece Brown.

Referee: T Kettle.

Attendance: 1,576

FGR fans: 167