Forest Green back to winning ways with victory over Maidenhead United
Goals from Emmanuel Osadebe and Harry Cardwell saw Rovers see off relegation-battlers Maidenhead Untied at The New Lawn on Saturday afternoon, writes Alfie Richmond.
Rovers opened the scoring inside just 10 minutes, when the visitors failed to deal with a Kyle McAllister corner, eventually bundled in by Emmanuel Osadebe.
Five minutes later, Craig Ross denied Adam May twice in quick succession when nearly identical chances arose just outside the area, with both efforts well saved by the keeper.
At the other end, Sam Barrat’s effort sailed narrowly wide of Fabian Mrozek’s post on 22 minutes. 8 minutes later, Tristan Abraham’s looped cross bounced off the bar in the Magpies’ pursuit for an equaliser.
Joe Quigley looked to double the hosts’ lead just 6 minutes into the second half, but his effort from 14 yards was dragged wide.
Rovers came close again on 58 minutes when May’s free kick found skipper Ryan Inniss at the back post, but he couldn’t connect cleanly enough to trouble United’s keeper.
Shortly after, Nathan Ferguson skillfully created space for a left-footed strike, but was saved comfortably by Mrozek.
McAllister was then denied on 65 minutes after a blocked shot was deflected into his path, saved by the feet of Ross.
The home side’s persistence paid off, and scorer turned creator with 18 minutes to go when Osadebe’s cut-back found substitute Harry Cardwell, who struck brilliantly into the top left corner to make it 2-0.
On 80 minutes, Ross denied the possibility of a third after saving another of May’s long range efforts.
The result leaves Forest Green in 3rd place in the National League table, with massive trips to Halifax Town and York City in the next seven days, before returning to the New Lawn for games against Sutton United (11 March) and Southend United (15 March).
Forest Green Rovers:Mrozek (GK); Inniss (C), Harries, Bunker, Osadebe (Long 87’), McCann, May, Robson (Fleming 87’), McAllister (Sercombe 86’), Quigley (Doige 81’), Garrick (Cardwell 64’).
Unused subs – Knowles, McCormick
Maidenhead United: Ross, Latty-Fairweather, Massey, De Havilland, Welch-Hayes, Smith, Ferguson, Pettit, Korboa (Onariase 71′), Barratt (McCoulsky 71′), Abrahams (Sho-Silva 87′)
Unused subs – Ajose, Cochrane, Collins, Johnson
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Emmanuel Osadebe (Forest Green Rovers)
READ MORE: Check out the list of results in and around Gloucestershire from Saturday right here
