Vanarama Conference

Eastleigh 2

Forest Green 2

BEEFY Jon Parkin's brilliant free- kick in the final minutes at Eastleigh's Silverlake Stadium home earned Forest Green a point in a captivating tie, writes Richard Joyce.

The 32-year-old pushed into the lead as FGR's leading marksman so far this term with a fine dead ball finish just five minutes from time, which saw Ady Pennock's Rovers' bounce back from falling behind, having originally been ahead in the first half.

James Norwood's cool finish, assisted by a brilliant through ball from Parkin, had seen Forest Green take the lead on the half hour mark in front of more than 2,000 fans as the hosts opened the doors by offering free entry to home and away supporters.

Rovers' boss Pennock again elected to start with Clovis Kamdjo in a forward position alongside Parkin after the move proved successful in Saturday's win over FC Halifax Town.

With Luke Rodgers and Dale Bennett reporting in unwell, Academy defender Aden Baldwin earned his first taste of senior first team league football with a place among the substitutes.

An unchanged eleven from the weekend looked confident in the early stages and after quarter of an hour were testing Eastleigh's keeper Ross Flitney.

Norwood's excellent cross from the right hand side was met by Parkin however the former Cardiff City man couldn't get enough power behind his headed effort.

Jai Reason looked lively in last year's Conference South champions midfield and he speared a shot into the side netting shortly after.

Parkin stuck an effort well wide after he had been set up by Marcus Kelly but the target man was to soon play a key role in FGR's opening goal on the half hour mark.

Sam Russell's long punt forward was collected by Parkin, who rolled a delicious through ball into the path of Norwood who delicately tucked Rovers' into the lead.

Former Oxford and Cirencester Academy striker James Constable tried his luck with an emphatic volley to draw Eastleigh level shortly after.

However, the former Oxford United man's attempt was off target after he had been presented with the ball following Danny Coles' misplaced header.

Forest Green had most certainly taken the game to the home side during the first half, although they were up and at FGR from the start in the second half.

Craig McAllister and Jack Midson both went close with good chances and they levelled through the latter on 57 minutes.

Eastleigh broke free down the right and Midson saw his initial effort stopped by Russell. The Rovers' keeper couldn't deny Midson from sliding in though to net the rebound and to draw parity for the hosts.

Parkin then had two great chances to push FGR back in front only minutes later but he couldn't convert either opportunity.

The home side made Rovers' pay and on 73 minutes they were ahead. Reason's free kick was met cleverly by Constable who directed a well-placed header into the back of the FGR net.

There was still time and plenty of chances to come for FGR. Norwood tested Flitney's shot-stopping skills with a fierce free kick which the former Barnet man was equal to.

The hosts then had to hack away Parkin's headed effort from off the line after substitute Elliott Frear had provided a good delivery from a corner.

But having had numerous opportunities all evening, Parkin would eventually cause the back of the Eastleigh net to ripple as he netted the final goal of an entertaining encounter.

His lowly struck free kick deceived the Eastleigh wall and squeezed into the back of the Spitfires net to hand Rovers a deserved point.

With the clock ticking, Forest Green were in the ascendancy towards the finish and after Flitney had saved from a Coles header, he was made to produce an instinctive stop to prevent Norwood from thrashing in a last gasp winner.

Eastleigh: R. Flitney; D. Spence, W. Evans, P. Reid, M. Green; B. Strevens, J. Collins, C. McAllister (S. Fleetwood 70); J. Midson, J. Constable, J. Reason.

Subs not used: C. Todd, C. Stanley, Y. Odubade, J. Helm.

Forest Green: S. Russell; D. Pipe, L. Oliver, D. Coles, C. Stokes; R. Sinclair, S. Wedgbury; J. Norwood, C. Kamdjo (K. Guthrie 78), M. Kelly (E. Frear 78); J. Parkin; Subs not used: E. Oshodi, A. Baldwin, S. Arnold.

Referee: B. Huxtable (Devon)

Attendance: 2,108.

Star man: James Norwood

Rovers travel to Dartford on Saturday, 3pm.