Forest Green Rovers 3 Burton Albion 2

Last updated : 20 November 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Forest Green Rovers came back from the brink of defeat to snatch their first home victory of the season over Burton Albion.

Rovers started off brightly and should have taken the lead after just two minutes.

Stephen Reed sent Stuart Roberts racing through from the left wing but his attempt at goal was deflected by the foot of goalkeeper Dan Crane.

That was as good as it got for the rest of the half for the home side as Albion began to get a stranglehold on the game - deservedly taking the lead after fourteen minutes.

Nigel Clough's ball forward found Jon Shaw who had all the time in the world to turn and send a shot from just outside the area past a static Dean Williams.

Andy Watson had two attempts to get Forest Green back on level terms. His first went wide of the left-hand post when it should have at least been on target.

His second came from Damon Searles' long ball and with just the keeper to beat Watson decided to try and chip Crane only for the ball to fall tamely into the keeper's arms.

The game looked all over for Rovers eight minutes into the second half when the ball was threaded to Craig Dudley who took it round Searle and fired the ball past Williams into the left-hand corner of the net.

A lifeline was thrown Rovers way 11 minutes from time. Searle picked out Matt Gadsby 30 yards from goal and when the Burton defence failed to close him down he sent a ferocious drive into the roof of the net.

Four minutes later the game had changed dramatically and Rovers found themselves with a possible point out of nowhere.

Scott Rogers laid the ball off for Roberts whose first-time cross was only stabbed at by Jefferson Louis and Charlie Griffin poked the loose ball into the net.

The unthinkable then became reality deep into stoppage time.

Reed's corner came back to him after being half cleared and when he drove the ball across the face of goal it was tapped in from close range by Rogers to give Forest Green a dramatic and much needed three points.