LEE AYRES IN SURPRISE APPEARANCE

DIDCOT TOWN  0 - 1  FOREST GREEN ROVERS

Report supplied by www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk

Lee Ayres made a surprise reappearance in Forest Green colours during their latest friendly at Didcot Town. 

The popular central defender was restricted to nine appearances for Rovers last season due to groin injury, and it was widely assumed he would be moving on this summer. 

However, the 27-year-old played the final half-hour of a game settled in the visitors’ favour by trialist Ben Gerring’s first-half goal. 

Ayres was a replacement for youngster Gerring, who was on Plymouth Argyle’s books last season. 

Rovers fashioned an early opening when Steve Davies, playing wide on the left, weaved into space and forced a plunging save from home keeper Sam Warrell. 

A speculative hooked effort from outside the box by Gerring was comfortably held by Warrell, while there was scare at the other end when Didcot’s Michael Hopkins surged from deep and produced a firm shot that deflected wide. 

Rovers could have gone ahead a minute earlier than they did, Jon Else striking the angle of post and crossbar with a sweet volley. 

Instead the winger had to be content with an assist, as he swung in a fine cross from the right for Gerring to head into the bottom corner. 

Dave Hockaday made one change of the break, Lee Smith replacing Else, but the rest of his starting XI were given 63 minutes. 

Ross Dyer was twice denied at the start of the second half, heading narrowly over under pressure after a near-post drive had been saved. 

James Bittner’s handling was also tested for the first time by a decent 20-yard strike from the impressive Hopkins. 

On 65 minutes a fine run and cross by David Accam could have resulted in a second Rovers goal, but Max Etherridge could not keep his close-range effort down. 

The closest Didcot came to a leveller was a curling free-kick by Michael Alexis that narrowly missed the top corner. 

Seconds later Smith should have made it 2-0, but he poked wide of the mark with only the keeper to beat. 

Another fine save at the near post denied Etheridge at the death, and the Zamaretto Premier Division side could hold their heads high when the final whistle sounded.

 Didcot Town: S. Warrell; J. Heapy, A. Gunn, A. Stanley, M. Hopkins; J. Dutton-Black, M. Alexis, M. Williams, R. Cannon; M. Bartley, J. Huggins; Subs: J. Smith, S. Wimble, I. Roper, A. Williams, E. Osborne-Ricketts, J. Mortimer-Jones, K. Halliday, T, Langford.

Forest Green: J. Bittner; J. Hodgkiss, L. Jones, B. Gerring, C. Hart; J. Else, J. Baldwin, I. Herring, S. Davies; L. Fowler; R. Dyer; Subs: G. Carlin, O. Cleaver, C. Henry, L. Ayres, B. Pugh, L. Smith, S. Mensah, C. Armstrong, D. Accam, I. Shaze, M. Etheridge.

Referee: A. Fielding                                  Attendance: 120

Star man: Lee Fowler