Bangura makes return to action in reserves draw
The returning Al Bangura completed three quarters of Forest Green’s Reserves first game of 2012 as Gary Seward and Scott Bartlett’s second string came from behind to earn a draw with their League One second string opponents, writes Richard Joyce.
In a first half that lacked action until its latter stages there was just a hefty challenge from Rovers triallist Matt Clark in the opening ten minutes which earned the former Swindon Town man a yellow card from referee Simon Knapp in an opening restricted to little action.
The quarter of an hour mark marked the games first opportunity on goal as Michael Uwezu had a low effort easily gathered by Jordan Seabright in the Bournemouth goal after the first team man had advanced from the left.
Matt Bulman was then tested for the first time in the evening several minutes later as the Rovers number two dealt with Josh Wakefield’s 25 yard shot after Al Bangura had given the ball away.
Bulman was busy again a short while later as he stopped Lyle Taylor from firing in on the left side whilst James Norwood was trying his luck for the first time as he unleashed a powerful strike which went wide of Seabright’s goal.
A superb Bournemouth move on the half hour mark then led to Alex Parsons firing wide for the visitors whilst a tremendous move from Rovers themselves a minute later saw Uwezu fire over after Norwood and Bangura had combined well to provide Uwezu with a chance on goal.
It was the first of two first half mistakes from Rovers that handed Bournemouth their opener ten minutes before the break as Adam Everiss gave the ball away to Parsons who fed Taylor to slot in an opener.
A swift Forest Green response led to Clark firing a powerful effort wide although a couple of minutes later Bournemouth were to double their lead after Jeffrey Imudia this time contributed to the benefit of the away side.
Jayden Stockley picked up Imudia’s loose ball in front of the Rovers box and his back post ball found Parsons who with one touch knocked in a Bournemouth second to give the away side a comfortable lead heading in to the break.
With Bournemouth making a second substitution at the break it was Rovers who dominated early proceedings in the second half and the home side’s pressure told when on the hour mark Norwood’s terrific jolting run in to the box saw the 21 year old smash in past Seabright to pull a goal back for the hosts.
And the search for another was followed up just a couple of minutes later as Callum Henry’s long punt forward was picked up by Norwood who fed Uwezu and the Nigerian fired narrowly wide.
Clark then missed an ideal opportunity to even things up in the 64th minute as a well placed Norwood cross was headed over from just outside the six yard box with the 19 year old Clark left completely unmarked.
As fog descended on the latter stages of the game Rovers struggled to materialise opportunities to find a leveller and it was a weighted long ball from a cleared corner that provided the speedy youngster and Rovers substitute Saul Williams with the opportunity to collect the ball and slot coolly past Seabright to earn Rovers a deserved equaliser.
Chris Allen’s consistently fine delivery from corners and free kicks almost led to Forest Green earning a late winner as a deep set piece was headed just wide by Adrian Harvey and Williams almost struck with virtually the last kick of the game but the reserves first outing of the year led to both sides sharing the spoils.
