It was the first time in 22 years that the Robins have claimed victory over their Gloucestershire rivals thanks to goals from Will Boyle and Andy Williams, writes Sam Wiles. 

Rovers did get one back through Aaron Collins converting from the spot but it wasn’t enough to stop Cheltenham claiming the bragging rights.

Mark Cooper admitted his side weren’t at the races in this season’s first “El Glosico.”

Speaking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, he said: “We wasted 60 minutes of the game.

“We didn’t play well for 60 minutes and played really well for 30.

“If you do that then it’s going to be a tough afternoon if you’re playing a good team like we were today.”

Going behind by two goals is never an easy deficit to overturn and Cooper recognised that his side made it difficult for themselves.

He said: “If you give yourself two goals to get back then it’s tough.

“We got one and were pushing for another one but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb.”

Cooper and Forest Green were dealt a blow prior to kick off as Nicky Cadden picked up a knock in the warm up and was replaced by Jordan-Moore Taylor.

“We planned him in the team,” explained Cooper. “It wasn’t even the ankle that he did, it was his other ankle for some reason.”

The games keep coming thick and fast for Forest Green as they next face Leyton Orient on Tuesday night. The game will be Rovers’ third in the space of a week but Cooper played down the challenge of playing so many games in such a short space of time.

“That’s the nature of the game,” he said. “It’s tough but we dust ourselves down and get ready to play on Tuesday.”

Forest Green next welcome Leyton Orient to the Innocent New Lawn on Tuesday night.