Stevenage Borough 2 Forest Green Rovers 1

Last updated : 10 December 2005 By Footymad Previewer
Stevenage ensured maximum points in this Conference clash, but they did it the hard way against a battling Forest Green side.

It may have been all Borough in the end, but Stevenage enjoyed total dominance in the last half-hour, but it wasn't always that way with Forest Green stunning the home side early on.

Indeed it took the visitors just six6 minutes to silence the noisy Stevenage supporters when a 25-yard strike from Ben Harding took a wicked deflection and sailed past Alan Julian in the home goal.

Buoyed by the strike, Forest Green dictated the pace with Zema Abbey firing three efforts on goal which could have extended the visitors lead, while Matt Gadsby forced a fine save from Julian on the stroke of half-time.

Borough had little luck in the first half but switched to three men at the back after the break which saw them swamp Forest Green and lay siege to Ryan Clarke's goal.

Anthony Elding missed a sitter when clear on goal after 54 minutes, but Jon Nurse made amends two minutes later when released by Dannie Bulman and calmly slotted home for the leveller.

It was then a case of when Stevenage would grab the winner as home favourite George Boyd forced two stunning saves from Clarke before seeing his shot come back off the bar.

Forest Green were unable to hold out, and 14 minutes from the end Stevenage grabbed a deserved winner when Barry Laker rose highest from a Danny Williams corner and headed the ball powerfully home.