Rovers end pre-season on a high
Forest Green brought the curtain down on their pre-season campaign by racking up their fourth consecutive pre-season win in a full-blooded friendly at Gloucester City. Dave Hockaday stated his starting XI would almost mirror the one for next week's league opener against Stockport County. Matt Bulman now appears to be in the goalkeeping hot seat ahead of previous number one James Bittner. After the former Cirencester Town stopper was again given the nod ahead of last season’s supporters’ player of the year. Hockaday is still searching for two new faces and he handed a 10-minute cameo from trialist Mike Uwezu, the former Dulwich Hamlet and Northampton Town striker.
Earlier, Rovers began with intent, Striker Reece Styche fizzing wide from the edge of the area inside the opening minute. Jared Hodgkiss then tried his luck from distance and then Jamie Rowe’s cross saw Chris Todd plant a header straight at City keeper Kevin Sawyer from 12 yards. However, it was Dave Mehew's side who should have opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Adam Mann was needlessly felled by right-back Jeffrey Imudia in the box, but veteran striker Darren Edwards stroked the penalty wide. The Tigers were creating the better chances and only a last-ditch clearance off the line by Chris Todd prevented former Forest Green favourite Matt Coupe knocking home Darren Mullings' free-kick. However, the Tigers deservedly nosed ahead on 19 minutes. Rowe gave away possession for the impressive Mann crossed low from the left for former Forest Green striker Steve Davies to poke the ball past Bulman.
The lead lasted less than a minute. Rowe leapt to meet Yan Klukowski's cross and brought a point-blank save from Sawyer, but Styche was on hand to fire in the rebound. It was hardly a pre-season affair when a tussle between Styche and Darren Mullings sparked a brawl, which resulted in bookings for the duo. Coupe and Imudia also found themselves in the book before the break.
Rovers’ Chris Allen, who bossed the midfield, tried his luck from 25 yards, but City continued to pose a threat; Davies fired straight at Bulman before forcing a fine tip over from the Rovers stopper on 42 minutes. Jamie Turley, suspended for the Stockport clash, replaced the out-of-sorts Imudia. Rovers bossed the second period. On 57 minutes James Norwood's cushioned header was met by the outstretched boot of Luke Graham and brought a flying save from Sawyer.
The resulting Rowe corner was met by the head of Styche and cleared off the line by defender James Bloom. However, a moment of sublime class from Rowe created Forest Green’s second goal. The former Reading midfielder received the ball back from a short corner, skipped round the back of City's defence and pulled it back for Griffin to ram home
