First half at the New Lawn

Forest Green 0

Barnet 1

Forest Green boss Ady Pennock handed on-loan Newport County striker Christian Jolley a start alongside Lee Hughes with Jon Parkin consigned to the bench for the first time this season.

Smarting from a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player -it was Rovers, who started brightly against  table-toppers Barnet. Straight from the whistle, Jolley had an early chance to get a shot-off, but Barnet left-back  Elliot Johnson scampered back to get a vital block.

Rovers were stung by the Bees on 11 minutes. Sam Wedgbury's sliced clearance saw goalkeeper Sam Russell upend John Akinde with an outstretched boot. From the resulting penalty the muscular Akinde smacked the base of the post, but Andy Yiadom was on hand to sweep home the free-ball.

Rovers were all at sea and Akinde almost made it two as he evaded Luke Oliver and Russell, but drilled his shot against the post.

Rovers responded with a James Norwood cross picking out Hughes, who forced a sprawling save from former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack.

This time, Norwood almost got on the end of a low Marcus Kelly crosS and Chris Stokes tested Stack from distance as Rovers cranked it up.

The Bees responded with on-loan Yeovil striker Sam Hoskins curling wide from the edge of the box.

Norwood went close to snatching 30th minute parity when he created space in the box, but drove his shot into Stack.

Giant defender Oliver saw yellow on 38 miutes as he ran into the diminuitive  Lee Cook.

Rovers rallied anda free-flowing move saw the ball drop to Jolley, who tricked his marker but his strike was easily saved by Stack.

Only a goaline clearance from Sam Togwell thwarted Danny Coles an equaliser from a Kelly corner and in the ensuing melee, Norwood's follow-up was charged down as Rovers finished the half on the front-foot.