A contentious Forest Green Rovers goal on the stroke of half time proved to be the winner in a keenly fought contest that was a great advert for the Vanarama National league.

Coming off the back of six wins out of six and only one goal conceded thus far this season, pre-match odds had clearly pointed to a predicted walk in the park for the league leaders.

Bromley to their credit were also two games unbeaten but yet to record a win since the opening day of the season. With it being the second league game in three days for both sides, there was a predictable shuffling of the pack with Bromley making three changes to their starting line-up. Out went Ben Chorley, Bradley Goldberg and Ben May to be replaced by Paul Rodgers, Pierre Joseph-Dubois and Alex Wall.

Understandably confident it was Forest Green who made the brightest start to the match, Aaron O’ Connor testing Alan Julian from 20 yards with a curling effort that Julian parried away for a corner.

However Forest Green were not to be denied on their next attack, in the sixth minute, an Elliot Frear corner was met by the head of Aarran Racine and deflected into the net by the slightest of touches by James Jennings at the back post. A familiar sense of foreboding permeated amongst the Bromley following as they feared another away capitulation.

However, Bromley were to shock both their hosts and own fans with a reply within 60 seconds. Following a foul on Moses Emmanuel on the far left touchline, Ali Fuseini’s free kick was met by a looping header from Alex Wall that floated over the static Jonny Maxted in the Forest Green goal for the equaliser.

Buoyed by the goal Bromley set about dictating the tempo of the game with Emmanuel in his favoured forward position and Anthony Cook and Pierre Joseph Dubois on the wings looking threatening every time they got on the ball.

Emmanuel went close in the 13^th minute when his header from Joe Anderson’s cross was saved by Maxted. He went even closer minutes later, interplay between Joseph-Dubois and Emmanuel saw the latter crack a fierce drive from 25 yards that forced Maxted to make a stunning fingertip save. Another opportunity was fashioned in the 20^th minute when he reacted quickest to a Fuseini quick free-kick only for a desperate last ditch block from Dale Bennett preventing the goal-bound effort.

Bromley’s period of ascendancy was disrupted by an enforced change on the half-hour, Joseph-Dubois had to be replaced by Bradley Goldberg due to injury which led to a change in the team line-up, Goldberg moving upfront whilst Emmanuel switched to the right wing.

With the game meandering to half-time Forest Green retook the lead in highly controversial circumstances. A Forest Green corner was only partially cleared to Delano Sam-York, his shot was blocked by several bodies in a goalmouth melee but as it rolled towards the line Jennings who was lying on the goal-line, clearly ahead of play, somehow forced the ball over the line.

In unison all Bromley players appealed for offside as well as the Bromley hoards behind the goal. Yet inexplicably neither the referee nor assistant referee budged. Referee Adam Hopkins was surrounded by incensed Bromley players demanding answers but to their huge consternation the goal was given.

Forest Green were the quickest out of the blocks at the start of the second half and Julian had to be alert to keep out an effort from O’Connor who was inches away from converting a fantastic cross from Jennings.

A huge talking point came in the 51^st minute of the game, O’Connor profited from a mistake in the Bromley defence and as he broke free he was tackled from behind by Jack Holland. To many inside the ground it looked like a stonewall penalty but referee Hopkins in keeping with his erratic performance waved the appeal away.

Man of the Match, as chosen by the match day sponsors, Maxted was then forced into action twice in the space of six minutes. On both occasions he denied Bradley Goldberg courtesy of excellent saves with his legs. Good movement by Goldberg and respective through balls by Emmanuel in the 59^th minute and Cook in the 65th presented Goldberg with chances to level the game up but Maxted was equal to the task.

In keeping with the end to end nature of the game, it was Julian who was the next keeper to showcase his skills, keeping out a John Parkin half volley with a super one-handed save. Minutes later he was at it again with a wonderful fingertip save to prevent a Charlie Clough header.

Bromley’s last genuine opportunity in the game came 15 minutes from time. Cook found space on the left wing and his delicious cross was met by the head of Emmanuel but his goal-bound effort was deflected inches wide of the near post by the outstretched foot of Marcus Kelly.

As Bromley pressed for an equaliser and poured men forward Sam-Yorke was denied in injury time by the legs of Julian. However he was not to rue that miss as shortly afterwards the full time whistle sounded to bring a breathless match to a close and the three points to the unbeaten league leaders.

Although Bromley were defeated, they will undoubtedly take heart from what Ady Pennock, Forest Green manager, acknowledged as a good battle between two good teams. For Mark Goldberg he will be pleased by the performance of the squad and be grateful for the selection dilemmas he has ahead of him as several players staked claims for regular starting positions.

With two home games to come over the next fortnight, it will be imperative that Bromley take confidence from this performance in order to win games to move up the league table.

 

Forest Green Rovers: Maxted, Pipe, Jennings (Jones 51), Bennett (Clough 35), O’Connor (Marsh-Brown 72), Wedbury, Kelly, Frear, Sam-Yorke, Racine, Parkin

Subs not used: White, Guthrie

Goals:  Jennings 6, Jennings 43

 

Bromley:  Julian, Rodgers, Holland, Francis, Anderson, Fuseini, Prestedge (May 75), Joseph-Dubois (Goldberg 29), Emmanuel, Wall, Cook

Subs not used: Swaine, Chorley, Udoji

Goals:  Wall 7

Attendance: 1764

Referee: Mr Adam Hopkins