Bishop's Cleeve 3

Forest Green 2

Perhaps one of the youngest ever Forest Green Rovers teams to take to the field representing the club produced an impressive display against Southern League Bishop’s Cleeve at their Kayte Lane home, writes Richard Joyce.

At one point during the second half, the average age in Rovers’ fourth pre-season outing of the summer was only 16, and on the night FGR twice led the game.

Scott Bartlett’s youngsters were assisted by the presence of Keanu Marsh-Brown who made his first appearance of pre-season to gain important minutes on his return from a minor knee operation.

FGR’s Wembley goal scorer took the armband, while second year and first year pros Louis McGrory and Joe Stokes also took turn skippering the side against senior opposition in the shape of the Mitres who are preparing for their latest Southern League campaign.

Trialist keeper Matt Hall made two good saves early on to deny Cleeve’s Paul Holmes and Ben Hayes, before in the 19th minute Stokes’ attempt from a narrow angle led to Marc Wright pulling off an important stop for the hosts.

Wright was busy again shortly after when he pushed away Marsh-Brown’s excellent speared strike, and the latter then hit the woodwork when cheekily attempting to score from a corner kick.

The deadlock was then broken when Olly Mehew added to his goal against Cardiff. He was put through in the box by a fabulous Stokes pass, and he finished coolly past Wright.

A couple of minutes later came a moment though that tainted the evening. Jack Holmes, who suffered a broken back in an FA Youth Cup match for the Academy side last season, was dangerously brought crashing to the ground. It led to the 18 year old being stretchered off and being taken to hospital with a suspected bad leg injury.

After the break, Cleeve drew level, as substitute Mark Magee snatched his first of two goals.

However an FGR side that was getting younger with each substitution then retook the lead after a wonderful team move under the eye of boss Mark Cooper who was watching in the stands.

Academy second year Tom Anderson was the beneficiary as he ended the move by firing in from close range.

Almost immediately though the home side were back level. Magee was again the goal scorer as he secured a brace.

And the Southern League outfit completed the turnaround when Ieuan Crowe’s smart finish with quarter of an hour to go put them ahead for the first time on the night.

It was an impressive showing from a young FGR side who showed they have the ability to mix it with players from a senior level, and they’ll no doubt get the chance again in the busy calendar of pre-season games that are still to come.

FGR: M Hall, J Holmes, H Hickford, L Curtis, L McGrory, J Stokes, K Marsh-Brown, J Watts, J Morris, B Davies, O Mehew

Subs used: B Reed, G Gabbiadini, T Anderson, T Leonard, A Hallett, J Stevens, W Davidson, J Freeman