FGR:2 U's:2

So now I, and other viewers of last nights game at Forest Green, know what you learn when you embark on the UEFA “A” coaching licence course.

If the Brabinator is anything to go by, you are taught to draw a big circle on a white board, and write HIGHER TEMPO in the middle of it. Lucky we can call on such advanced coaching techniques, I’m sure it really gives us the edge over other teams.

As well I had to laugh when Steve Bower described the game as being a “match with a lot of quality about it.” It was entertaining game, but only, as with a lot of Conference matches, because the ineptitude of both teams meant there were chances aplenty. United’s consistent failure to maintain possession was our downfall, with the Carden-shaped hole in our midfield particularly noticeable. Meanwhile the homes sides backline looked porous throughout

The one real moment of quality in the first half saw FGR take the lead. Andy Mangan turned neatly away from Tonker, and put in an inviting cross which was flicked past Danny Potter by the inrushing Michael Symons. Rovers had the better of the first half, and Potter had to be alert to make two good saves from Simon Clist, while Ben Farrell cleared a shot off the line.

But once United got going it was clear why Forest Green have plummeted down the league of late. They looked susceptible to any ball into the box, with keeper Ryan Robinson possessing the bizarre knack of being able to jump seemingly lower than he stands. LFW (bless him) used to suffer from the same problem.

The equaliser came after Challinor was brought down on the right near the corner flag. Willmott whipped in a tempting centre which found Hatswell arriving late to head in a goal against his old club. Not quite as spectacular as the last one, but they all count. 1-1.

Beesley had already seen a shot well saved by Robinson, and before half time Bolland saw a header tipped round the post.

It was a taste of what was to come after the break, with United taking control of the match. To give Brabs his due, he seemed to change the shape slightly, from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, with Willmott wide left and Farrell moving to the right wing. We looked a lot more solid after this, and Bees missed two glorious chances to give us the lead, shooting wide then playing a one-two with Danny Crow but shooting straight at the keeper before seeing the rebound blocked on the line by Darren Jones.

Our second arose from a great run from Willmott, who picked the ball up in his own half and just ran and ran. For once his final ball was good as well, bypassing the keeper and allowing Danny Crow to nod into the empty net. I always knew he had it in him, ahem.

Sadly we conceded an equaliser almost immediately. A long free kick into the box wasn’t dealt with convincingly, and after a spell of pinball Mark Preece rammed home from close range.

A draw was probably a fair result on the balance of play, but I having gone 2-1 up I suspect last years team would’ve held the lead. I’m yet to be convinced that the 08/09 class have the same mental toughness, but we shall see.

Man of the Match: Robbie Willmott – A constant menace who finally displayed some decent end product. Keep it up Robbie.













Mong of the Match: Paul Parker – Good old Parks. The highlight of another bizarre display of anti-Cambridge bile came in the build up to our first goal. “That was never a foul for me”, he opined, as the replay showed a Forest Greener kicking Challinor in the shin. Perhaps he needs to be re-acquainted with a footballing rule book.