MAIDSTONE UNITED 1
FOREST GREEN 4
FOREST GREEN were fantastic on plastic as they made it four National League wins on the spin.
On a sun-kissed Saturday, Rhys Murphy helped himself to a second-half brace as Mark Cooper’s side caught the eye on Maidstone’s 3G pitch and jumped to third after six games.
Recalled Darren Carter had given Rovers a fifth-minute lead, but The Stones drew level from a Jack Evans free-kick, but Christian Doidge helped his side regain the lead just before the break and Cooper’s side ran riot in the second half to underline their title credentials.
Earlier, Cooper rested striker Matt Tubbs ahead of the upcoming Bank Holiday Monday match, Doidge taking his place. Carter came in for Mo Chemlal and. Elliott Frear and Charlie Clough were named on the bench after recovering from injury.
Rovers’ fans were handed a kind gesture of a cut-price £5 entrance fee after a collapsed bridge on the M20 halted their progress to the Gallagher Stadium – missing the opening 20 minutes.
And Rovers’ stuck on the motorway followers would have been following social media when their side hit the 3G pitch running - Carter handing Cooper’s side a fifth-minute lead. Carter did well to finish the move he started when fizzing across Lee Worgan from a Keanu Marsh-Brown slide-rule pass. It was almost 2-0 to Rovers – Marsh-Brown bringing the best out of Worgan.
However, Maidstone netted parity on 12 minutes. Aarran Racine fouled Bobby- Joe Taylor to allow Jack Evans the chance to pick his spot and curl a 20-yard free-kick over the wall and beyond Sam Russell’s dive, who was making his 150th league start.
Rovers were rocked, but Marsh-Brown tried to settle nerves with a strike from outside the box and then a Liam Noble free-kick demanded a plunging Worgan save.
Worgan was forced to deny Rhys Murphy with the save of the half five minutes before the break. A free-flowing move saw Noble wrestle possession in midfield and his incisive break and quick feet allowed Murphy a shot inside the box, which saw Worgan fall low to repel his close range stinger.
Rovers regained the lead in stoppage time – Ben Jefford skipping down the left to find the predatory Doidge at the back-post.
A sumptuous move involving Noble, Jefford and Murphy saw Tom Mills block a certain Carter goal as Rovers started the second half in positive fashion.
The Stones responded but Rovers had Drissa Traore to thank for a goal-saving block on a Ben Greenhalgh.
However, Rovers made it 3-1 on 75 minutes with Murphy striking from outside the box to give Worgan no chance from a Carter assist. Four minutes later Murphy grabbed his second and Rovers’ fourth as he scored with simplicity from a Kieffer Moore pass.
Flisher smashed the bar for Stones at the death, but Rovers were comprehensive winners.
Forest Green (4-1-3-2) : Russell; Bennett, Jefford, Racine, Pinnock; Traore ( Frear, 67); Marsh-Brown Robert, 80) Noble, Carter; Doidge (Moore, 74 ); Murphy.
Subs not used: Clough, Lefebrve
Attendance: 2,274
Star Man:Rhys Murphy.
Next up: Southport (H) Monday, August 29, 3pm.
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