FANS ENJOY A LOCAL DERBY

SHORTWOOD UNITED  1 - 2  FOREST GREEN ROVERS

Supplied by www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk  

FOREST Green edged an entertaining friendly against their neighbours, with plenty of positives for both teams.

Highlight of the night for the visitors was a spectacular first-half volley from James Baldwin against his former club, but a flurry of late goals and even a missed penalty ensured there were some genuine derby fireworks.

Rovers were wayward with two early efforts from the edge of the area, Ross Dyer scuffing wide after linking with Lee Fowler and Lee Smith doing likewise following a weak punch by Duane Portlock.

Ian Herring also chanced his arm from range but saw his effort comfortably held by the Shortwood stopper.

Previous work and family commitments meant this was Reece Styche’s first friendly outing of the summer, and the striker had a goalbound shot superbly blocked by Alton Axton.

Rovers were getting closer, and on 22 minutes Luke Jones met Fowler’s corner with a powerful header and produced a flying save from Portlock.

It was not all one-way traffic though, and Portlock’s opposite number James Bittner had to react smartly to keep out Jamie Martin’s drive at the near post.

The opening goal came in the 37th minute. Smith’s cross was only half cleared and dropped invitingly for Baldwin, who smashed the sweetest of volleys into the top corner from 20 yards.

Dave Hockaday introduced Lee Ayres, Steve Davies and another new trialist Yan Klukowski at half-time.

Polish midfielder Klukowski has previously turned out for Chippenham Town and looks capable of playing centrally or on either flank.

A raft of other changes came in the 68th minute, shortly after another point-blank block by Ashley Thomas had foiled Dyer.

David Accam was narrowly off-target with a curling effort, and moments later the Ghanaian weaved his way into the area and set up Klukowski for a shot which was badly sliced.

Lightning quick runs and even a few step-overs from Accam kept both sets of supporters entertained as the game drew to a close, but it was the away contingent cheering again on 82 minutes when Ayres headed home Jon Else’s corner.

A comfortable conclusion looked on the cards for the Blue Square Bet Premier outfit, but a minute later Jake Davies mustered a dipping shot from all of 35 yards which caught out substitute keeper Gavin Carlin.

Still the drama was not over, and Rovers had a chance to make it 3-1 when Accam was clipped in the area by Joe Macklin. Steve Davies struck the resulting spot-kick well but was denied by a spectacular diving save by Martyn Pearce.

Shortwood United: D. Portlock; A. Allard, J. Macklin, A. Thomas, A. Axton; M. Collins, J. Parrott, R. Casey, M. Bennett; J. Martin, A. Hoskins; Subs: J. Coates, L. Meredith, R. Evans, O. Clarke, L. Halliday, M. Pearce.

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

Referee: M. Niemirski (Glos)

Star man: Lee Fowler