Forest Green 1 Telford 1

Last updated : 19 April 2003 By Footy Mad

Rovers almost took an early lead when Alex Meechan's deflected cross from the right wing bounced over keeper Paul Edwards and clipped the top of the crossbar before going over.

It was the visitors who took the lead after 16 minutes when Peter Smith's shot was only parried by Rovers keeper Steve Perrin and Paul Moore fired the rebound into the net from close range.

On the break Telford almost grabbed a second when Peter Smith cut inside after a run down the wing but his low drive was parried behind for a corner by Perrin.

Rovers upped their game in the second half and were unfortunate not to equalise within a minute when Neil Grayson's long throw into the penalty area was flicked on by John Richardson and Steve Cowe's header went straight into the arms of Paul Edwards.

The equaliser came in the 49th minute when Meechan's low cross evaded everybody except Grayson at the far post and he tapped the ball over the line.

Grayson almost grabbed a second soon after only to see his close-range header go over the bar.

Four minutes before the end Telford came close to snatching a win when Moore's 20-yard effort needed Perrin to be at full stretch to palm the ball over the bar.