New Lawn Saturday, September 4th, 2010   Conference Attendance: 1,064         Forest Green Rovers 0-0 Southport
2010 /11

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FOREST GREEN ROVERS SOLID START TO THE SEASON CONTINUES. FOREST GREEN ROVERS 0 – 0 SOUTHPORT FC Supplied by www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk THOUGH far from happy after this spiky stalemate, Dave Hockaday seems to have unearthed the key to home solidity. His Forest Green side are unbeaten in four games at the New Lawn this season and have conceded only one goal. Both of these sides were looking to maintain better-than-expected starts to the campaign, but the men from Merseyside ended the day happier after benefiting from some good fortune and yet more dubious refereeing. Rovers recalled Curtis McDonald and Jamie Grimes to cover for suspended duo Scott Bartlett and Gavin Caines, while new recruit Ben Gill was handed a debut in central midfield. It was in-form Southport who started on the front foot, Matty McGinn warming James Bittner's palms with a fierce free-kick which the home keeper claimed at the second attempt. The hosts eventually settled, and some nice combination play between Gill and Reece Styche put Yan Klukowski clear for a shot which Tony McMillan smothered well at the near post. Former Rovers trialist Liam Blakeman was a bright light for Southport, and he connected sweetly with a volley from 15 yards which whistled over in the 27th minute. Four minutes later the hosts were denied a vehement penalty claim, as Styche nicked the ball past prostrate keeper McMillan and saw his goalbound shot strike the arm of Earl Davis. McMillan coped better in helping over a cross-shot from Curtis McDonald, and moments later he saved again to deny Gill at the far post. Forest Green's influence was growing, but they were indebted to a magnificent flying save by Bittner on 37 minutes. Chris Simm fed Blakeman inside the area and his close-range shot on the turn was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar. The second half produced far fewer clear openings, home skipper Luke Jones eventually chancing his arm from long range but failing to keep it down. Southport's McGinn curled one narrowly wide of the far corner before another opportunity fell to Styche, who surged onto a loose ball and brought a decent low save from McMillan. The Sandgrounders' stopper was called upon again within a minute, doing well to clutch a snap-shot from Jon Else, while Davis was fortunate to escape censure again when he appeared to haul down Jones in the area. Substitute Lee Smith got on the end of an Ian Herring long throw but again there was no way past McMillan, leaving Hockaday frustrated and unhappy with the performance of referee Richard Martin. Forest Green Rovers: J. Bittner: I. Herring, L. Jones, J. Grimes, C. McDonald: L. Fowler, M. Fowler (L. Smith 64), B. Gill, J. Else (S. Davies 79): Y. Klukowski: R. Styche: Subs not used: C. Armstrong, J. Baldwin, Z. Jones. Southport: T. McMillan: K. Lee, E. Davis, A. Flynn, R. Williams: P. Barratt (M. Powell 57), A. Winn, A. Moogan, M. McGinn: L. Blakeman (A. Collins 59): C. Simm (D. Morley 90): Subs not used: S. Gray, S. Dickinson. Referee: R. Martin (Somerset) Attendance: 1,064 Star man: Reece Styche – Deserved a goal for his work rate and movement in the lone striker's role. MAIN SPONSORS SHIRT SPONSORS OFFICIAL CLUB SPONSORS OFFICIAL SUPPLIER