FLEETWOOD STARS IN ROVERS CURTAIN CALL

Histon  2 - 2  Forest Green Rovers

Report by This is Gloucestershire

FLYING the flag for villages in the Blue Square Premier, it was somehow fitting that these two sides ended remarkable campaigns with honours even. Similar in stature they may be, but the clubs are poles apart in terms of their footballing philosophy and Rovers were easier on the eye throughout.

AN 88th minute strike from Jonathan Smith tightened Forest Green's grip on eighth place in the Blue Square Premier.

A magnificent 36th minute free-kick by Alex Lawless was cancelled out before the break by Luke Moore as some end-of-season defending was ruthlessly punished.

Jim Harvey's side looked to have been sunk by Stacey Long's rasper in their final home game of the campaign, only for Smith to grab a vital second goal for the club.

First opportunity of the night went the way of the visitors on 10 minutes, John Akinde muscling his way past Darren Jones and forcing keeper Terry Burton into a low save at the near post.

Jones made amends eight minutes later with a magnificent cross-field pass to Ishmael Welsh, whose low cross was just beyond the reach of Stuart Fleetwood on the stretch.

Fleetwood - deservedly presented with the Supporters' Player of the Year trophy prior to kick-off - turned provider in the next attack, laying the ball off for Jamie Pitman to skew well wide.

Lee Dodgson is more proficient from long range, and he had Ebbsfleet stopper Lance Cronin worried with a dipping 25-yard effort that missed the crossbar by no more than a foot.

Cronin looked less than comfortable dealing with a Fleetwood cross-shot as Rovers turned up the heat, but Neil Barrett was only narrowly off target at the other end with a fierce drive.

Lawless can count himself unlucky not to have even made the top three in the Player of the Year poll, but he served up the perfect reminder of his qualities with the opening goal.

With Adriano Rigoglioso confined to the bench, the Welshman took charge of the set-piece and duly curled over the wall and past Cronin's despairing drive from 25 yards.

The lead lasted six minutes, as the home side were caught out by a swift counter-attack and Moore was allowed to cut into the area from the left and coolly slot the ball under Burton.

Rovers winger Ishmael Welsh began the second half like a man possessed, and he was unfortunate not to open his New Lawn account when he skipped past two defenders, exchanged passes with Paul Stonehouse and saw his near-post drive tipped over by Cronin.

A Lawless corner picked out Jones moments later, but the defender could only nod over the bar under pressure.

A fine pass by Les Afful to Dodgson had Ebbsfleet retreating again, but the latter's ball across the face of goal was inexplicably missed by Fleetwood and Welsh saw his snatched effort blocked by Peter Hawkins.

Fleetwood atoned for his air-shot in the 66th minute, brilliantly taking down a high ball inside the box, but this time Jonathan Smith was guilty of a horribly scuffed finish with only Cronin to beat.

Rovers paid a heavy price for their profligacy, as four minutes later Long was first to a loose ball in the left channel and produced a rocket of a shot that flew past Burton and into the corner.

Groans descended from the home faithful, but Ebbsfleet's failure to clear a Stonehouse cross enabled Smith to pick his spot blast past Cronin from 20 yards.

Forest Green: T. Burton; A. Lawless, D. Jones, M. Brough, P. Stonehouse; L. Afful, J. Smith, J. Pitman (M. Preece 71), I. Welsh (D. Carey-Bertram 73); L. Dodgson (A. Rigoglioso 61); S. Fleetwood;

Subs not used: L. Sheehan, R. Robinson.

Ebbsfleet United: L. Cronin; P. Hawkins, J. Smith, P. McCarthy, S. Opinel; C. McPhee, M. Bostwick, N. Barrett, S. Long (C. Hearn 79); L. Moore (M. Ricketts 77), J. Akinde (C. Eribenne 64);

Subs not used: G. McDonald, S. Mott.

Referee: D. Mohareb (Stockport) Attendance: 822

Man of the match (as voted by Match Sponsors Grosvenor House): Paul Stonehouse

ROVERS BACK TO WINNING WAYS

FARSLEY CELTIC  0 - 2  FOREST GREEN ROVERS

Report from Stroud News & Journal

FOREST GREEN'S inability to beat sides flirting with relegation ultimately cost them a play-off place but assistant manager Jamie Pitman was pleased to see his side grind out a 2-0 victory at relegation threatened Farsley Celtic.

He said: "We have had difficulty grinding out a result against the lower teams this season but we came here and did just that.

"It's been a real learning curve and hopefully it will be useful next year."

Defender Mark Preece headed a downward header home from Alex Lawless's corner into the bottom left corner of the goal to give Rovers a deserved lead after 23 minutes. Just after the break Lee Tuck was denied a certain goal but he watched his header superbly saved by Terry Burton. However, Rovers made it two on 70 minutes when Stuart Fleetwood's cross fell kindly to Paul Stonehouse and the midfielder tucked the ball home from close range. Rovers held sway. Jonathan Smith and Fleetwood both went close. Ishmael Welsh almost made it three in the closing moments as his 25-yard strike brought the best out of Aspden.

Forest Green: Burton, Lawless, Brough, Preece, Tonkin, Afful (Dodgson 82), Smith, Pitman, Stonehouse (Welsh 72), Fleetwood, Rigoglioso (Jones 69).

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Carey-Bertram.

Goals: Preece 23, Stonehouse 70.

AFFUL’S DOUBLE SENDS BURTON PACKING.

FOREST GREEN ROVERS   3  -  1   BURTON ALBION

Report from The Stroud News & Journal 

DARE to dream-the play-offs are back on for Jim Harvey's Forest Green.

Les Afful hit his first goals in nearly a year as rampant Rovers shocked high-flying Burton Albion on Monday.

In a must win game, Adriano Rigoglioso gave Jim Harvey's side a 19th-minute lead. Alex Lawless tapped the free-kick for the former to rifle home a skidding 25-yard strike.

However, it was the diminutive Afful who doubled the lead on 34 minutes. Lawless found Rigoglioso, who played in Afful who produced a smart finish across Deeney.

It was all Rovers. John McGrath was booked before the break for a foul on Jamie Pitman, and he was joined by Shaun Harrad in stoppage time for a lunge at Paul Stonehouse.

Nigel Clough's side started brightly after the break. Terry Burton's strong handling denied Matt Williams on 65 minutes. Rigoglioso limped off and Rovers wobbled in his absence.

Substitute Mark Preece conceded a corner and as the ball broke Daryl Clare volleyed beyond Burton. on 72 minutes. Rovers responded two minutes later. Simon Clist was the provider, and Afful finished with aplomb.

Only 943 fans turned up, but Rovers manager Harvey hopes his side's exciting brand of football and charge for the play-offs will help attract fans back to the club.

"Some of the football we have produced at home here, it is a shame that more people don't come and watch us because it is terrific and the goals we have scored at home compete with anyone else in the league.

"We haven't always stepped up against the bottom teams in the league and three or four results there would have made a big difference for us, but against the top teams we have played extremely well."

Forest Green Rovers: Burton, Lawless, Brough, Hardiker, Stonehouse, Welsh (Dodgson 81 mins), Afful, Rigoglioso (Preece 69 mins), Carey-Bertram (Smith 75 mins), Pitman, Clist.

Subs not used: Ashford, Robinson.

Referee: S. Creighton                Attendance:  943           Man of the Match: Les Afful

CARDS DEALT A BLOW BY ROVERS DUO.

FOREST GREEN ROVERS  2 – 1  WOKING

STUART FLEETWOOD made it a Good Friday for Forest Green as his late strike perked-up his side's flickering play-off hopes. Jim Harvey's side appeared to be heading for a frustrating draw before Fleetwood bolted on to an Andriano Rigiglioso’s through ball. His speed took him beyond Tom Hutchinson before he unleashed a strike past the previously impregnable Ross Warner with four minutes remaining.

Manager Jim Harvey was delighted to snatch a late win, but felt his side should have put the game to bed far earlier said: "We just needed some quality from somewhere and Rigoglioso has delivered some lovely balls for Stuart (Fleetwood), and it (the goal) was probably one of the hardest chances he had.

"We were disappointed with Stuart, he did have a lot of good opportunities but he's come up with a lot of goals this year and he's picked out the winner in the end. "If he'd taken his chances earlier I think we would have won the game earlier with a few more goals."

Earlier, the outstanding Rigoglioso bagged his fifth of the season to hand Rovers a 29th-minute lead. However, Woking, looking for a first win in seven, drew parity when Les Afful was adjudged to have fouled Giuseppe Sole. Sole showed his ability with a sweet strike beyond the wall and past the helpless Terry Burton.

Earlier, Warner saved superbly from the irrpresible Rigoglioso. Terry Burton responded in kind as he pushed away a 35-yard wind assisted Sole free-kick. However, Afful was proving a handful. His neat footwork took him away as he picked up a Rigoglioso pass. His cross from the right saw Ishmael Welsh fizz first time into Warner. Fleetwood's best chance of the half fell on 24 minutes. Jamie Pitman found Rigoglioso who split the defence for Fleetwood, but Warners dash from his line blunted his attacking intent.

Nonetheless, Rovers nosed ahead five minutes later. Afful stepped on the gas and found Rigoglioso, the former Liverpool man arrowed in a strike that clipped defender Hutchinson on its way past Warner. Rovers were frustrated when Amy Rayner adjudged the diminutive Afful to have fouled Sole in the air. Sole duly punished Rovers from outside the box with his neat free-kick. Fleetwood should have nudged Rovers ahead but Warner was on hand to block from yet another Rigoglioso prompt.

It was more of the same after the break with Fleetwood going close from a Rigoglioso pass and then Alex Lawless' ball saw Fleetwood lose his footing as he shaped to shoot. The loss of Anthony Tonkin (hamstring) disrupted Rovers attacking purpose and Sole came close from distance, forcing Burton to touch over. Warner did well to deny Rigoglioso after a Welsh cut back. However, Frank Gray's side Woking had a goal disallowed on 78 minutes when Burton was judged to have been fouled as he came out for a long free-kick and was beaten in the air by Hutchinson before Woking striker Marvin Morgan swept the ball into the net.

However, with eight minutes to go Rigoglioso slipped in Fleetwood, his shot was parried by Warner who did brilliantly to gather Paul Storehouse's follow up. Minutes later and Rovers snatched the points. Jonathan Smith fed Rigoglioso for Fleetwood to run on a beat Warner.

Forest Green: Burton, Lawless, Brough , Hardiker, Tonkin (Stonehouse, 56), Afful, Pitman (Smith, 80), Clist, Welsh (Dodgson, 65), Rigoglioso, Fleetwood. Subs not used: Robinson, Preece.

Match Sponsors Star man:   Adriano Rigoglioso             Attendance:  1,143

FLEETWOOD BRACE SINKS SHAYMEN

FOREST GREEN  2 - 0  HALIFAX TOWN

HALIFAX Town felt the sting of a quick-fire Stuart Fleetwood brace in a 2-0 Blue Square Premier victory for Forest Green, which ended the Shaymen's six-match unbeaten run.

WEYMOUTH SUNK BY SIX SHOT ROVERS

Weymouth 0 Forest Green Rovers 6,

Forest Green Rovers ran riot at the Wessex Stadium last night and put their goal drought well and truly behind them. The goals had dried up for the Nailsworth-based club since the turn of the year, and they failed to net in the previous two games, but they let their frustration out on relegation-threatened Weymouth.

Top goalscorer Stuart Fleetwood scored for the first time since December 29 2007 against Droylsden, with a first half double either side of Darren Jones' header. Adriano Rigoglioso, who had previously failed to score all season, hit a second half hat-trick as Rovers demolished their opponents.

Weymouth almost scored though in the opening seconds when Justin Roberts' long clearance allowed Jake Hyde to break and when he laid the ball off to Nick Crittenden, he struck over the bar from 20 yards. But Forest Green soon hit back by taking the lead on four minutes. As defender Magnus Okuonghae failed to clear the ball in his own half, Fleetwood nicked it off him, went around keeper Stephen Henderson and tapped into an empty net.

The Terras responded well and on ten minutes they had a chance to level when Anton Robinson put a fine low cross along the six-yard box that Hyde turned against a post from just a few yards out when he should have scored. Forest Green threatened again when Alex Lawless broke down the left and crossed for Fleetwood, who was thwarted at the near post by a superb block tackle from Kyle Critchell.

Hyde certainly looked lively for Weymouth and on 29 minutes he managed to get on the end of a cross from Trevor Challis but his header went straight at Burton. On 36 minutes, Simon Clist put a fine corner into the near post and defender Darren Jones rose highest to flick the ball over Henderson and into the net.

In first-half added time Rovers grabbed another when Roberts stumbled and failed to intercept a through ball by Jones that found Fleetwood, who again slotted the ball home.

After the interval Anthony Tonkin tested Henderson from 20 yards before the Terras created an opening when Tony Bedeau pulled the ball back to Robinson whose shot was pushed over the top by Burton. But just when the home side looked like they may put up some sort of fight, Forest Green made it four on 52 minutes.

Fleetwood did well to engineer his way to the right by-line and when he put the ball across the box, Adriano Rigoglioso was on hand to score. On 78 minutes, a fantastic run and cross by Forest Green substitute Terra Ishmael Welsh set up Rigoglioso, who side-footed home the fifth.

The pick of the bunch came three minutes later through a Rigoglioso free-kick, from all of  25 yards out and thundered a shot in off the underside of the bar to complete his hat- trick. Welsh had a great chance to add another in the dying stages but his shot found the hands of Henderson. The result was Rovers first winning double of the season and the highest winning margin in their Conference history.

Weymouth: Henderson, Critchell, Okuonghae, Roberts (Blackburn 55), Challis, Browning (Malcolm 65), Vernazza, Robinson, Crittenden (Coutts 64), Hyde, Bedeau. Subs not used: Matthews, Anzite.

Forest Green: Burton, Lawless (Afful 80), Giles, Jones, Hardiker (Preece 59), Tonkin, Brough, Pitman (Welsh 67), Clist, Rigoglioso, Fleetwood. Subs not used: Robinson, Dodgson.

Referee: Andrew Sainsbury (Wiltshire).                    Attendance: 783

Burton Helps Rovers to a Point

FOREST GREEN ROVERS  0 – 0  OXFORD UNITED

FOREST Green's Terry Burton celebrated the birth of a new baby daughter and a rare start in goal to provide the spark needed to help Jim Harvey's side to a 0-0 draw against in-form Oxford United at the New Lawn today.

Burton, in for the out-of-sorts Ryan Robinson, superbly denied Oxford substitute Matt Green in added time to blunt Oxford's quest for three straight Blue Square Premier victories. However, the U's will feel disappointed not to have claimed a penalty when John Hardiker blatantly wrestled the impressive Justin Richards to the floor inside the opening minute of the second-half.

However, Harvey was pleased to see his side stem back-to-back defeats, which had seriously dented his side's play-off aspirations. "I couldn't fault my players effort and application today, " said Harvey. We were dogged and kept going and worked extremely hard, and at the end of the day a draw was probably a fair result against a very good Oxford side."

Earlier, Adam Murray's corner saw Barry Quinn nearly gave the U's the perfect start with a header on four minutes only for Burton to block superbly. Rovers riposte was immediate. Their trademark neat football was evident on the unforgiving surface.

Ishmael Welsh was proving a first-half menace to the U's with his neat wing-play. But it was midfield play maker Simon Clist who teed-up Stuart Fleetwood to fizz over from 20-yards. Rovers should have nosed ahead on 26 minutes. Jamie Pitman and Clist linked for Jonathan Smith to play in Danny Carey-Bertram. The former Hereford United striker skipped beyond Billy Turley but his cross across the face of goal from an acute angle failed to see anyone apply the scoring touch.

Oxford hit-back with Eddie Anaclet going close. Meanwhile, Richards should have done better as he broke the offside trap, but his weak cross-shot was cleared by the covering Mark Preece. Rovers upped the tempo. Michael Brough watched his looping header drop over from a Welsh cross and then, before the break Turley did well to claw away Preece's header from a Clist corner.

58 seconds into the second half Hardiker chose to inexplicably wrestle Richards to the ground, but Rovers were awarded a free kick instead. Four minutes later Smith's header was turned onto the post from Clist's pin-point corner. Oxford enjoyed a purple-patch. Anaclet watched his curling right-footed effort swiped superbly away by Burton on 51 minutes, Richards saw his 20-yard strike saved on 57 minutes before Craig McAllister's surging run and cross on almost made the breakthrough that United were chasing.

Sensing three points manager Darren Patterson ushered on former Lincoln winger Ryan Semple for his debut with 20 minutes to go and striker Matt Green replaced McAllister. Nonetheless, two goal saving tackles from Luke Foster and Quinn in the 80th-minute denied Fleetwood a late chance, but it was the U's who almost snatched it at the death. Green slipped past Hardiker, but was denied by a strong one-handed Burton save.

Forest Green: Burton, Hardiker, Preece, Brough, Tonkin, Welsh (Afful 72), Pitman, Clist, Smith (Dodgson 73), Carey-Bertram (Rigoglioso 72), Fleetwood.

Subs Not Used: Ashford, Stonehouse.

Oxford Utd: Turley, Clarke, Quinn, Foster, Howard, Anaclet (Semple 72), Murray, Hand, Blackwood, Richards, McAllister (Green 76).

Subs Not Used: Odubade, Day, Hutchinson.

Att: 1,624          Star man : Terry Burton                Ref: C Sarginson (Staffordshire).

LAWLESS ENDS TV BLANK

FOREST GREEN ROVERS   1 - 0   CRAWLEY TOWN

ALEX LAWLESS earned himself a place in Forest Green folklore by becoming the first man to score for the club on live television. The goal itself - a tame 20-yard shot that seemed to trickle into the net in slow motion - will not live long in the memory of any neutrals watching on Setanta Sports. But it was enough to settle a slow-burning contest, and nudge Jim Harvey's men back within four points of the Blue Square Premier play-offs.

Rovers were first to come to life as an attacking force, Lawless bringing a routine save from Ashley Bayes with a skidding drive from the edge of the area. Bayes had to be sharper moments later, rushing off his line to smother Stuart Fleetwood's effort after the visitors had allowed the striker to pounce on a loose ball.

Simon Clist steered wide of the near post from Jamie Pitman's pull-back, then Darren Jones headed over an Adriano Rigoglioso corner as pressure grew on the Crawley goal.

Jones earned himself a two-match ban on 24 minutes, picking up a 10th yellow card of the season for a rash sliding challenge on Mustapha Carayol. The winger suffered no serious damage, and his deep cross two minutes later was nodded over at the back post by Magno Vieira.

Both sides possessed aerial strength, and Jones connected too firmly with Rigoglioso's inswinging free-kick as the ball flew into the Rockwool Stand. Ryan Robinson produced a magnificent save at the other end eight minutes before the interval, acrobatically foiling Jon-Paul Pittman after the frontman had connected well with his left foot in the middle of the area.

The second half began with Forest Green on the front foot again, and Jones produced a ferocious drive from 25 yards which Bayes could only parry straight back into the danger zone. Much to the keeper's relief, Fleetwood was unable to gather the rebound and the ball was hacked clear.

Crawley were finding it difficult to pick holes in a compact Rovers backline from open play, and Carayol's somewhat optimistic shot from long range - charged down by Chris Giles - was not untypical. But free-kicks were a different story, and Robinson did well to clutch Jamie Stephens' 20-yard effort through a sea of legs after the defence had failed to clear Thomas Pinault's delivery.

Fleetwood had the ball in the Crawley net two minutes later, but the goal was chalked off after substitute Les Afful had been adjudged narrowly offside from Lawless' through-ball. Afful added another horrible miss to a growing collection in the 72nd minute, firing straight at a prone Bayes from four yards after Jones' long throw had been allowed to bobble a long way.

But the diminutive winger did not need long to atone for his error, producing the cross from the left which was only partially cleared and fell for Lawless to stab past a flat-footed Bayes via the inside of the post.

It was stoppage time before Crawley mustered any sustained pressure by way of a response, the biggest scare coming when Bayes ventured forward for a 92nd minute corner and saw a header deflected behind.

Forest Green: R. Robinson; D. Jones, C. Giles, J. Hardiker, A. Tonkin; A. Lawless, M. Brough (M. Preece 57), J. Pitman, S. Clist; A. Rigoglioso (L. Afful 57); S. Fleetwood (D. Carey-Bertram 90); Subs not used: L. Dodgson, T. Burton.

Crawley Town: A. Bayes; K. Murphy, G. Wilson, J. Stephens, P. Watson (T. Pinault 46); M. Vieira (K. James 46), T. Thompson, D. Bulman, M. Carayol; J-P Pittman (P. Joseph-Dubois 76); J. Cook; Subs not used: D. Shimmin, L. Blackburn.

Referee: B. Malone (Wiltshire)      Attendance: 1,044         Star man: John Hardiker.

Report supplied by This is Gloucestershire

Harvey Happy with a Point

Salisbury Town 0 - 0 Forest Green

CHRIS Giles will never rival prolific striker Stuart Fleetwood but the defender almost snatched a late victory at in-form Salisbury. With Fleetwood absent with flu, Giles, who began his career as a striker, found himself clean through from a Jamie Pitman through ball, but his sweet 20-yard shot cracked against the bar. Salisbury had their own opportunities in the dying embers of the game. Aaron Cook saw his flick-on cleared off the line by Anthony Tonkin and saw his late header saved by Ryan Robinson.

However, Rovers boss Jim Harvey was happy with a point which kept his side in play-off contention. He said: "It's very tight at the top, but, as people are always saying, if you win at home and draw away, you're going to have a good season. "It was particularly pleasing to see how well we defended."

"With Mark Beesley moving on to Cambridge United and Adriano Rigoglioso injured, Rovers boss Jim Harvey handed Danny-Carey-Bertram a chance t o stake his claim.It was Carey-Bertram who should have opened the scoring on 23 minutes, but he blasted wide after latching onto a poor header from Aaron Cook. However, Salisbury's Matt Tubbs saw a shot fizz wide and former Forest Green striker Marvin Brown saw his strike blocked by Giles. Rovers thought they had won the game but Giles' strike hit the bar.

Harvey felt his side were hardly troubled by Nick Holmes's side. He added: "Apart from a couple of scares right at the end, I can't remember them having any real chances."

Salisbury: Ryan Clarke, Bass, Asafu-Adjaye, Cook, Robinson (Feeney 18), Bartlett, Turk, Fowler, Sandell, Brown, Tubbs (Matthews 73).

Subs Not Used: Bittner, Darrell Clarke, Sinclair.

Booked: Fowler.

Forest Green: Robinson, Jones, Preece, Hardiker, Tonkin, Lawless, Brough, Pitman, Clist, Giles, Carey-Bertram (Stonehouse 72).

Subs Not Used: Burton, Smith, Dodgson, James.

Booked: Lawless.

Att: 1,478 Ref: A Hendley (West Midlands