Forest Green hold below par Boro

It wasn’t what we have been used to in recent weeks, but at least the unbeaten run continues. Boro put in their poorest performance for quite some time as they were held at home by struggling Forest Green, the team we beat 4-0 just over 10 days ago. I suppose there was always going to be a blip at some point and it’s now important that we react on Saturday when we travel to Cheshire again to face Northwich Victoria. A win up there is now vital if Graham Westley’s side have serious plans of playing in the play-offs in May, especially with all our rivals winning their games last night.

Ronnie Henry returned to the side after his recent injury and he came in for Mark Albrighton who dropped to the bench. Jon Ashton partnered Mark Roberts at the back with Chris Day continuing in goal. Lee Boylan also missed out, so Westley gave Peter Vincenti a start up top with Cole and Drury again operating the flanks. FGR played a 4-4-1-1 formation with David Brown dropping off main striker Andrew Mangan.

Boro didn’t create much at all last night and although a Mitchell Cole shot hit the bar early on, Boro created very little in what were difficult conditions. The pitch hasn’t helped recently, but I don’t see the point of continuously playing the ball in the air when it is that windy. At times in the first half it was just coming straight back. If there was any night that we needed to play our football on the deck, it was last night. FGR reacted better to the adverse conditions and used quick striker Andrew Mangan as their target man and the plan worked. Rovers stopped a Boro attack and played a long ball over the top for Mangan to run onto and he calmly slotted it past Chris Day to give the Gloucestershire side the lead.

It didn’t take long for Boro to react though and within 6 minutes, Mitchell Cole had equalised from the penalty spot. A corner played in by Drury had caused unrest in the box with Vincenti being fouled. Cole stepped up and sent goalkeeper Burton the wrong way. Other than that, Boro created very little. As the second half began, Stevenage were now shooting with the wind and it should of helped their direct style of play. However, they didn’t use the conditions as well as their opponents had in the first half and again created next to nothing. Steve Morison had a snap shot which he screwed wide, but that was about it. Morison had a poor night by his standards. It was FGR who had the best chance to win the game when Mangan, about 4 yards out hit a shot which was superbly saved by Chris Day at point blank. I’m pretty sure Mangan was already celebrating, but somehow Day saved it and made sure Boro took a share of the spoils.

A disappointing display, but a point nonetheless. It was frustrating because we didn’t look like scoring at all and in recent weeks it has been the total opposite. The officials were pretty terrible, but that’s what we have come to expect at this level. Jerome Anderson was bundled over in stoppage time and the referee somehow failed to point to the spot. It was more obvious than the one he did give! Anyway next up is Northwich on Saturday in what now is surely a must win after last night’s results.