SHORTWOOD UTD 2
FOREST GREEN ROVERS 1
JAKE LEE’S quick-fire brace handed Shortwood United the Nailsworth bragging rights over Forest Green.
Liam Noble had given Rovers a first half lead, but former Cheltenham Town striker Lee smashed two goals in a minute to hand the Meadowbank outfit the win.
With boss Mark Cooper and assistant Scott Lindsey watching from the sidelines, academy boss Scott Bartlett took charge of a development and academy side, but included senior players Wade Elliott, Noble and captain for the night Ben Jefford along with second year pro Louis McGrory alongside Jon Moran, Harry Hickford, Olly Mehew and French keeper Simon Lefebvre.
Jake Lee makes a break from Tom Anderson Pics:Brian Rossiter
And Rovers bossed the early possession, but it was Shortwood who fired the first shots in anger – left-back Nick Humphreys drilling wide after a surging run and then Liam Meredith clipping over from a Steve Davies cross.
Only a last-ditch tackle from Rovers’ Moran prevented Shortwood from taking a 14th minute lead – the former Crewe defender did well to stick out a leg as former Forest Green winger Davies eyed a strike.
Rovers responded – Hickford’s long ball spotted Noble who released a cheeky dink over Rhys Lovett, but the ball dropped fractionally wide.
Rovers were in control. Last-gasp defending from Nick Peare and Nick Humphreys managed to clear a teasing ball from Jefford and then Shortwood’s Nathan Marks headed a high Elliott cross to safety.
And the pressure told on 31 minutes, when Elliott’s pin-point pass dropped to Noble, who took a touch to finish sweetly past Lovett for his third goal of the week.
Rovers smelled more goals – Olly Mehew fizzing wide from just inside the box.
On the cusp of the break Rovers’ goalkeeper Simon Lefebvre flung up a strong fist to deny Davies a certain goal after a neat pass from strike partner Lee.
Shortwood started the second half brightly and stung Rovers with two identical Lee strikes in sixty seconds. His first saw him break clear from a Chris Withington pass to fire across Lefebvre and a minute later the duo combined to make it two with 52 minutes gone.
Shortwood attacked with increasing confidence and Peare’s surge from the back won a free-kick, which saw Lefebvre gather Lee’s direct hit.
Just after the hour Noble , Jefford and Giancarlo Gabbiadini made way as Bartlett made a raft of changes, and Hickford and Moran soon followed.
Shortwood’s two-goal hero Lee made way for assistant manager Will Morford with 25 minutes to go. Marley Thomas was brought on and his energy down the right was eye-catching at times as he teed-up Morford, who fired wide with just Lefebrve to beat.
Thomas was proving a thorn and his direct run forced Lefebvre to tip over.
Elliott, Rovers’ stand out player on the night, went off with 14 minutes to go as Rovers brought on their younger guns.
Thomas again carved Rovers open and Morford saw his strike smartly blocked by Lefebvre.
Rovers finished the game on the front-foot and Mehew had a late goal chalked off for offside after McGrory and Tom Anderson threaded him through.
Shortwood United: Lovett, Marks, Humphreys, Weeks, Peare, Hancock, Davies,Withington, Price, Lee, Meredith.
Subs used: Thomas, R Humphreys, Morford.
Forest Green: Lefebvre, Deelen, Hickford, Moran, Elliott, McGrory, Anderson, Noble, Jefford, Mehew, Gabbiadini.
Subs used: Marsh, Freeman, Curtis, Hallet, Morris, Davidson, Menayse.
Star Man: Wade Elliott (Forest Green).
Star Man: Steve Davies ( Shortwood).
Attendance: 223.
Ref: C Simpson.
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