Forest Green's 19-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end as they were defeated 2-0 by Braintree Town at The Cressing Road Stadium.

First-half goals from Kyrell Lisbie and Tom Blackwell proved to be the difference on the afternoon, as Rovers slipped to third in the National League table.

Steve Cotterill named an unchanged side for the third successive game, with Rovers looking to make it three league wins in a row.

It would be the home side however who took the lead in the 10th minute through the dangerous Kyrell Lisbie, as he played a quick one-two inside the box and fired into the bottom corner.

The Iron almost doubled their lead from a corner when the ball fell kindly to Jamal Fyfield but he could only head over the bar.

They would grab a second shortly after the half hour mark when Fyfield found winger Tom Blackwell and his strike found the corner.

Rovers created an opening just before the break when Charlie McCann laid the ball off to Kyle McAllister who forced a good save out of Henry Gray in the Braintree goal.

The hosts opened the second half well - Lisbie cutting the ball back to the arriving Jermaine Francis but his effort struck the crossbar.

The away side almost halved the deficit just after the hour mark when a long free kick into the box fell to Cian Harries who then found Harry Cardwell but his strike was blocked.

Substitutes Emmanuel Osadebe and Joe Quigley then combined with the latter firing just over the bar.

Liam Sercombe then came close on his 700th career appearance when he forced Gray into another good save 10 minutes from time.

Despite more late pressure from Rovers, they could not break down a resolute Braintree defence who saw out the remaining minutes well.

Rovers will look to bounce back on Tuesday night as they travel to Ebbsfleet United hoping to close the gap on the top two in the table.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

FGR Starting Line-Up: Mrozek, Long, Inniss ©, Harries, Robson, May, Sercombe, McCann, McAllister, Cardwell, Knowles

Used Subs: Quigley, Osadebe, Bunker, Doidge & McCormick

Un-used Subs: Tozer, Garrick

Attendance: 860