FOREST GREEN 3

GUISELEY 0

AUTHOR Jilly Cooper is best known for her raunchy equestrianism novels, but she has now turned her pen to football and National League table-toppers Forest Green certainly gave her writing inspiration for another blockbuster.

And the best-selling author is certainly sold on her local club and has titled her upcoming book ’Tackle’ and she saw plenty of it in a match that Rovers eventually made short-shrift of struggling Guiseley.

And fan Jilly has described her local team as ‘absolutely sweet’ and boss Mark Cooper was more than happy to see his side stretch their unbeaten run to seven matches and six clean sheets as goals in each half from Darren Carter, Christian Doidge and a Jake Lawlor own goal underlined Rovers’ title-winning credentials as they moved four points clear at the top.

Playing a diamond, Rovers started on the front- foot – Liam Noble fizzing one wide, but Guiseley were certainly not rolling over as Jake Cassidy slammed one over the bar.

Normal service resumed for Rovers. Frenchman Fabien Robert screwed wide on the turn after being picked out by an eye of the needle pass from the irrepressible Noble.

Rovers took the lead on 20 minutes after a crisp passing sequence allowed Carter to pick his spot from the edge of the box to fire unerringly beyond Dan Atkinson.

The game was becoming stop-start. Cooper and his opposite number Adam Lockwood were in constant frustrating dialogue with the fourth official and referee and chief protagonist Rob Whitton used an injury break to join the debate and air his views to Cooper.

Cooper craves passing football but long balls can certainly be effective and Noble dug one out for Dan Wishart to step on the gas and fizz one into the side-netting after a buccaneering run.

Rovers opened the second-half with a stunning period of almost hypnotic type passing, which saw Guiseley chasing shadows and eventually the ball finished at the feet of Doidge who turned and thumped home from just inside the box within a minute of the second-half. More than a dozen passes resulted in a goal that had Cooper clapping with delight.

And Rovers made it 3-0 when the unfortunate Jake Lawlor touched a Wishart cross beyond his own keeper after 58 minutes.

Cooper’s side controlled the final proceedings and Noble almost made it 4-0 when smashing the post with six minutes to go and Doidge missed a late chance at the far post.

In stoppage time Rovers’ midfielder Drissa Traore was helped off after a meaty challenge.

FOREST GREEN: ( 4-4-2) Russell 7; Bennett 7, Wishart 7, Pinnock 7, Clough 7; Traore 7, Noble 8, Carter 8 (73 Kelly, 6), Robert 7;( 62 Marsh-Brown, 6 ) Doidge 8, Moore 7 (62 Murphy, 6) .

Subs not used: Racine, Frear

GUISELEY: (4-5-1) D Atkinson 6, East 7 (73 Palmer, 6), Lowe 6, Lawlor 6, R Atkinson 7; Purver 7, Preston 6 (56 Clee, 6), Walton 6, Hylton 6 ( 56 Boyes, 6), Hatfield 7; Cassidy 6.

Subs not used: Dickinson, Rankine.

Star Man: Liam Noble.

Attendance: 1,723.