Forest Green Rovers bounced back from midweek defeat with a 1-0 victory over Hartlepool at The New Lawn.

Charlie McCann’s 71st-minute strike proved to be the difference in a game where chances were at a premium.

The result sees Rovers remain in third position in the table with the visitors also staying 18th.

A first half which lacked in many major opportunities, it was the away side who came closest to breaking the deadlock.

Nicky Featherstone found space inside the box and his cross found striker Gary Madine who headed narrowly over.

The away side spurned another opportunity just after the hour mark as midfielder Nathan Sheron could only find the side netting.

The game’s moment of quality came in the 71st minute which proved to be the difference on the afternoon.

Substitutes Marcel Laviner and Emmanuel Osadebe combined with the latter cutting the ball back to the oncoming McCann whose strike found the bottom corner.

Rovers threatened a second through substitute Harry Cardwell but his headed effort was superbly saved by Brad Young in the Hartlepool net.

The Pools pushed for an equaliser in stoppage time but could not break down a resolute home defence.

Rovers will travel to Eastleigh next Saturday hoping to make it back-to-back league victories whereas Hartlepool will host Sutton United.