By Richard Joyce

FOREST Green Ladies will face a nervous week to see whether they will be crowned FA Premier League South West Division One champions after a last minute defeat at Chichester.

Josh Giddins’ squad made the journey south to Sussex to take on Chichester in both team’s respective final league matches of the season.

A thunderous stoppage time finish from Jenna Fowlie ensured Rovers will be forced to wait on Exeter City Ladies final match against Cheltenham Town next Sunday, to see whether they will earn promotion to the third tier of the women’s game.

Although their destiny relies on events in Devon next week, Forest Green can at least be cheered by the thought that Exeter need to record a massive victory of over 10 goals against Cheltenham if they are to stand a chance of snatching the title.

FGR would have been left disappointed that they didn’t wrap the championship up on their own terms in a difficult game against an energetic Chichester outfit.

Sophie Okey had an early chance in the first half when the ball reached her at the back post, while goalkeeper Georgina Macey made a good save when a Chichester free-kick had bounced back out to the edge of the box.

Naomi Marshall thought she had broken the deadlock early in the second half, however the Rovers forward was correctly ruled offside after she had reacted well to finish emphatically.

Marshall had another terrific opportunity minutes later after she had muscled her way through, only to fire narrowly over the bar.

The home side were the team who eventually found a way through.

A deep free-kick was launched into the Forest Green box, and a well executed lifted finish left Macey with no chance.

The Sussex club, who lost 3-1 to Rovers when the two teams met earlier in the campaign, almost went two up only to see Macey produce a fine stop.

And almost instantly Rovers raced down the pitch and found parity as Hannah Hale’s tremendous drive inside the area powered past the helpless Chichester keeper.

Hale had another chance minutes later as she looked to try and grab a second but this time she could only shoot over the bar.

A draw would have been enough to seal the title, however with less than a minute to go, the hosts spoiled the party under the south coast sun.

Another long distance free-kick eventually fell kindly in the box, and Fowlie drilled an unstoppable effort via the woodwork past Macey to deny Forest Green the result they so wanted.

With a County Cup final to look forward to as well, it looks set to be a eye catching end to the season for Giddins’ Ladies set-up.

Forest Green: Georgina Macey, Abbie Sadler, Amy Baker, Kirsty Richardson, Jodie Shepherd, Hayley Kent, Hannah Hale, Ellie Olds, Charlotte King, Naomi Marshall, Sophie Okey, Annie Martin, Sarah Stacey.