FOREST GREEN 1

CARLISLE UNITED 1

A GOALKEEPING masterclass from Reading loanee Lewis Ward helped Forest Green earn a point against play-off rivals Carlisle United.

Reece Brown’s eighth goal of the season on 31 minute was all that separated the two play-off contenders, but Nathan Thomas levelled things up three minutes after the restart.

Earlier, Mark Cooper made one enforced change after the emphatic 3-0 shredding of contenders Colchester United on Tuesday – Lee Collins failed to recover – Udoka Godwin-Malife slotting into a back-three.

The Cumbrians bossed the opening exchanges – attacking with wind-assited gusto.

And Steven Pressley’s Carlisle side really should have been ahead on 24 minutes - Danny Grainger's corner moved like a beach ball to leave Ward flapping, but Nathan Thomas watched his stooping header kiss the bar.

Two minutes later Thomas breezed inside Nathan McGinley, but Reading loanee Lewis Ward imposed himself to block.

But, Rovers served a riposte to take the lead seven minutes later. Against the run of play, Christian Doidge played in the leggy Brown who lashed in a sumptuous strike from the edge of the box.

Seven minutes before the break the Cumbrians were culpable again - Thomas fluffed his lines as his heavy touch enabled Ward the chance to drop at his feet.

With the breeze in their favour, Rovers were almost afforded a bizarre second – Tom Parkes’ back-pass a fraction from beating his own keeper just a minute from the second-half off.

Carlisle were back in the game on 48 minutes. Nathan McGinley had his pocket picked by Thomas who finally found his shooting boots to find parity.

The goal had knocked the stuffing out of Rovers, but Ward came to their rescue, saving well to finger a Mike Jones stinger over and then diving across his goal to glove a Thomas strike wide.

Ward kept the game at deadlock, using long levers to deny Regan Slater with nine minutes to go.

Rovers’ sub George Williams spanked the post from 35 yards with six minutes to go as Cooper’s side looked for a dramatic finish.

Forest Green: Ward, Shephard, Godwin-Malife, Rawson, Winchester, Doidge, Brown, Gunning, McGinley, Mills, Reid (Williams 69)

Subs: Thomas, Mondal, Grubb, Williams, James, McCoulsky, Pearce Star Man: Lewis Ward Carlisle United: Collin, Miller, Grainger, Parkes, Gerrard, Jones, Slater, O'Hare, Thomas, Devitt (Scougall 81, Hope.

Subs: Gray, Liddle, Kennedy, Grant, Simpson, Scougall, Branthwaite.

Attendance: 2,381 ( away 293)

Referee: Graham Salisbury

Next up: Rovers travel to Port Vale next Saturday, 3pm