FOREST GREEN slipped out of the play-off zone with a thoroughly disappointing defeat against an enterprising Woking side at Kingfield, writes Richard Joyce.

A flat Rovers performance drew comparisons to the disappointing midweek defeat at Braintree just before Christmas, and the hosts made them pay with two powerful second half finishes.

Former Bristol City man Kevin Betsy fired the Cards in front just after the interval and Jack Parkinson made sure of his side's win with another strike late on.

Despite re-signing Lee Fowler on loan from League One Doncaster Rovers hours before kick off, the central midfielder, joining Rovers for his third spell, was consigned to a place on the bench with Eddie Oshodi again forced into an unfamiliar midfield position.

Matty Taylor's early snap shot trickled wide in a bright Rovers opening while Woking hit back with their first chance of the evening as Bradley Bubb shipped an effort off target.

James Norwood tried his best to engineer a first half Rovers goal but his burst of pace from a wide angle ended with a flying effort that was deflected out for a corner.

The hard working Paul Green then tried his luck with a well-produced chip as Norwood completed a series of half efforts with a thump on goal which Woking's on-loan shot stopper Seb Brown saved comfortably.

It looked as though Forest Green had run out of ideas heading into the break as the hosts ended the first half in the ascendancy.

Firstly Betsy tested Sam Russell with a low strike and Bubb again tried his luck on goal with a fiery shot which the man in between the sticks for Rovers did well to push away.

Woking carried their attacking threat on early into the second half and it led to their opener.

The experienced Betsy disguised a shot on goal which opened up a gap in the Rovers defence and saw the attacker smash in past Russell.

Magno Vieira did his best to try and hit back for Rovers almost instantly as he drove a low shot at goal but Brown was equal to the Brazilian’s effort.

Brown was then called into action again as he blocked away Fowler's fizzing volley after the midfielder had been introduced at the break.

As they had done so in the first period, Woking finished the half as the emerging side and Parkinson headed over a John Nutter corner as Forest Green struggled to deal with Woking's aerial presence at set pieces that would lead to the hosts’ second.

Another corner into the box was shielded well by Jayden Stockley, who set Parkinson and the midfielder hammered in to ensure all three points would be staying in Surrey.

Forest Green: S Russell, J Hodgkiss, C Stoke, J Turley, E Asafu-Adjaye, E Oshodi (L Fowler 46), Y Klukowski, P Green (B Wright 74), M Vieira, J Norwood (Odubade 57), M Taylor. Subs not used: O Koroma, A Racine Att: 1,105 Referee: Kevin Johnson (Somerset) Star man: Magno Vieira.