New Lawn Tuesday, March 18th, 2014   Conference Attendance: 1,219         Forest Green Rovers 2-1 Grimsby Town
2013 /14

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Forest Green Rovers 2 Forest Green Rovers vs - Grimsby Town 1 Grimsby Town Date: 18/03/2014 7:45 pm Attendance: 1219 Venue: The New Lawn Rovers grind out important Grimsby win Grimsby Town Home First half goals from Lee Hughes and Eddie Oshodi helped Forest Green to their first ever win over Grimsby Town as Rovers edged closer to the Conference Premier play-offs, writes Richard Joyce. Ady Pennock's side now sit in sixth place only one point behind Kidderminster Harriers in the final play-off position as they head into the final stages of the season. The result ended a barren run against the Mariners, which had seen the evening's visitors go into the game on the back of five consecutive victories from their last five meetings. Hughes' opener after only three minutes set Rovers going on the night as England C international Oshodi's powerful header gave FGR some much needed breathing space. A nervy second half saw Grimsby edge back into the game thanks to Scott Neilson's strike but Rovers held on with spirited last ditch defending helping them to maximum points. Rovers once again made plenty of alterations to their starting eleven as they took on their fifth game in eleven days. In came Anthony Barry and Lee Hughes while defensive man Dale Bennett returned from injury to shine in the middle of the back four. It took only three minutes for Hughes to set the foundations for a Rovers win when he latched onto a Marcus Kelly ball forward, and classily drove through the Mariners defence, before coolly slotting the ball under the body of James McKeown. James Norwood almost made it two minutes after as he blasted a fine effort against the post in an opening dominated by the home side. Grimsby gradually eased their way into the game but saw attempts by both Connor Jennings and Neilson saved or blocked as Rovers doubled their lead on the half hour mark. Kelly's corner was met by the leaping Oshodi who directed a superb header past McKeown and into the back of the Grimsby net to widen the gap between the two sides. Sam Russell, making his hundredth league appearance for the club, was then called into action towards the end of the half as he stopped an Andy Cook effort that came through a sea of bodies while Hughes headed over just before the break from a Barry corner kick. As expected the visitors roared into life at the start of the second half as they barraged the Rovers goal with regular attacks. Russell was on hand to deny Cook once again after the former Barrow man had dabbled at an Aswad Thomas cross towards goal and they then hit the woodwork as Neilson saw his attempt graze the outside of the post. A couple of minutes later and Neilson would hit the post once more for the Mariners but this time the ball slipped inwards over the line and the away side had a foothold back in the game. Almost immediately Rovers tried to restore their two goal advantage as Matty Taylor saw his header from a dangerous Kelly free kick go just inches past the frame of the goal. The visitors piled on the pressure even more in the night's closing stages as they seeked an equaliser but strong Rovers defending prevailed. After substitute Luke Rodgers had almost powered home when one-on-one, Ross Hannah snatched at a shot in the FGR box and saw his effort roll wide as the game entered stoppage time. Scott Kerr's desperate drive flew high over the bar as outstanding defensive work from Paul Green on the line in the closing seconds denied Grimsby a share of the points. Mariners loanee Andrew Boyce's header looked destined to hit the back of the net but Green was in place on the line to make an all important headed block as Rovers held on for a truly satisfying win.