Sky Bet League Two
Chesterfield 1
FOREST GREEN require a point from their final three matches to rubber-stamp League Two survival.
Stoppage-time goals from substitute Dayle Grubb and Christian Doidge guided Rovers to a 4-1 victory to virtually condemn Chesterfield to back-to-back relegations ,with Jack Lester's side nine points away from safety with three games remaining but not be able to overturn their 19-goal difference deficit.
Rovers took the lead on 26 minutes. Left-back Scott Laird arrowed in a fizzing drive from 25 yards.
Kristian Dennis levelled things up from the penalty spot for Chesterfield on 36 minutes after Reuben Reid upended Drew Talbot inside the box.
Goalkeeper Brad Collins saved Rovers after the break, showing sharp reflexes as he denied Dennis with great hands from a searching Jacob Brown cross.
With 15 minutes to go Forest Green boss Mark Cooper introduced Grubb, and his impact was immediate, just two minutes after coming on, he rolled in Doidge, who finished with aplomb for his 23rd goal of the season on 77 minutes.
Following the goal, a Chesterfield fan entered the pitch to vent his frustration.
Chesterfield’s Jacob Brown struck the post on 90 minutes and as the game entered six-added minutes an impish piece of skill from Grubb made it 3-1 on 94 minutes for his fifth goal since arriving in January.
A minute later Alex Bray was tripped in the box for Doidge to convert his second and Rovers’ fourth, his 50th for the club.
In a must-win game for Chesterfield, it was the Derbyshire outfit who started on the front foot, Joe Rowley directing a free header wide in a helter-skelter opening 10 minutes.
Fighting for League Two survival, Chesterfield were on the money – Kristian Dennis drawing a point-blank save from Collins after shrugging off Haydn Hollis. Moments later Jak McCourt’s audacious backheel cannoned back off the post.
Rovers were huffing and puffing and survived a 16th minute let-off. Dennis somehow contrived to scuff wide as the net bulged in anticipation after Drew Talbot and Andy Kellett had gift-wrapped the opportunity.
A moment of pinball madness saw Christian Doidge have three chances to score in 10 seconds. The Welshman saw Chesterfield keeper Aaron Ramsdale produce sharp reflexes to block a shot and a header, with opportunity number three being nodded onto the underside of the bar.
Any nerves that were in evidence were quickly calmed on 26 minutes. Marauding left-back Laird strode forward to arrow in an angle drive from 25 yards, giving Ramsdale no chance.
Rovers pressed the self-destruct button on 35 minutes – Reuben Reid clipped the tumbling Talbot from behind in the box and Dennis, so profligate earlier, sent Brad Collins the wrong way from the penalty spot.
At times it was like a game of basketball, Laird turned defence into attack with a great block for Reece Brown to play in Reid, who took a touch only to see his fizzer bring the best out of the diving Ramsdale.
Rovers started the second-half with intent, but survived a scare when Brad Collins brought the ball back into his own box and as he attempted to gather, Louis Dodds picked the ball out of his hands to turn the ball home, but the Chesterfield man was adjudged to have impeded the Chelsea loanee.
With 15 minutes to go, Cooper ushered on Alex Bray and Dayle Grubb for Reece Brown and Chris Clements.
Brad Collins saved Rovers with outstanding reflexes as he denied Dennis with sharp hands from a searching Jacob Brown cross.
Grubb’s impact was immediate, just two minutes after coming on he rolled in Doidge who finished with aplomb for his 23rd goal of the season on 77 minutes.
Jacob Brown struck the post for Chesterfield on 90 minutes as the game entered six added minutes.
Two stoppage time goals from Grubb and Doidge allowed Rovers to relax with League Two survival all but done and dusted.
Forest Green (4-4-2) : B Collins; L Collins, Rawson, Hollis, Laird; Rawson, Clements (Bray 75), Osbourne, Brown (Grubb 75); Reid (Campbell 81) Doidge
Subs not used: Belford, Simpson, Bray, Cooper
Booked: Gunning 85
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; Barry, McGuire, Evatt (O’Grady 88), Talbot; Weir (Brown 73), Reed; McCourt, Rowley (Dodds 38), Kellett; Dennis.
Subs not used: Smith, Nelson, Hines, Anyon.
Attendance: 3,336
Away fans: 602
Star Man: Christian Doidge
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel