A reaction requested and a reaction delivered!

In a true game of two halves, Rovers sealed a win in very wet conditions in GL6.

A crazy period in the first half saw the lads go behind, equalise through Kircough and then go behind again all in the space of 6 minutes.

The second half saw some terrific attacking play and three great goals from Haughton, Rees and Knowles, to earn a well-deserved victory.

First Half:

The rain was hammering down at TNL and the lads wearing pink started brightly under the floodlights.

Although there were no real clear-cut chances, FGR had most of the early possession.

However, the first real foray forward from Woking on 9 minutes, led to a goal, stunning everyone in the stadium including those visiting in the North stand.

A clever defence-splitting pass from the Woking left allowed Sanderson to get a shot off and despite his best efforts, Isted couldn’t get a hand to it.

To be fair, it was a good finish from the Woking striker.

The lads reacted well though and continued to play with intensity.

Pushing forward a few minutes later, they were awarded a free kick on the left-hand side.

Jayden Clarke stood over it and delivered an inch-perfect cross, met by Gabe Kircough at the back post, who headed back across the goal and wrong-footed the keeper!

The fans were on their feet, delighted to see the young lad score!

You could see what it meant to him in his celebration.

The celebrations were a little short-lived though, as Woking went straight up the other end and won a corner.

Gbode scored from the cross and the lads (and the fans) couldn’t quite believe they were behind again.

The rest of the first half was all Forest Green, lots of attacks and posession but they couldn’t find a way through.

Half chances from Jili, several from Haughton, who looked very sharp on his return to the team, Clarke firing just over, all showed promise, but ultimately added to the frustration.

The bad news looked to be getting worse on 29 minutes as Jay Mingi was forced off with a niggle, there was a silver lining in the fact that Tom Knowles came on to replace him.

Woking continued to sit back and admittedly, held their line well.

As half-time was looming, Mendy had a great chance.

Shooting from just outside the box, the ball was flying towards the top corner....

The whole East Stand were waiting for the net to bulge but unbelievably it didn’t and the ball drifted agonisingly wide.

Despite the score, the lads had played well and general consensus was that of a harsh score line.

The half-time talk from the gaffer was 'keep going, it’ll come'.

And it really did!

Half-Time: Forest Green 1-2 Woking

The lads came out with some serious intent, and from the off, you felt it was only a matter of time before the goals came.

Haughton hit a rocket that cannoned back off the post, which is possibly still shaking now.

It should have been the equaliser, but yet again, frustratingly close.

Nick was having a great game and he wasn’t going to be denied.

After a foul on the edge of the D, there was only one man going to be taking it.

He stepped up on 52 mins and dispatched it, a slight deflection off the wall and the lads were level.

You could feel the confidence lifting through the stadium and on the pitch.

Two minutes later, we went ahead.

Jili down the left put in a cross which was deflected.

Ricardo Rees was the quickest to react and confidently buried in the bottom corner.

That’s now 4 goals in 4 games for the Welshman and this was turning into just the response Savage would have wanted.

In the 78th minute, Tom Knowles sealed the win.

Driving in from the right wing, he unleashed a missile that the keeper couldn’t stop.

He was rewarded with a high five and a big hug from the gaffer!

With 10 minutes to go and to cap off a great night, Christian Doidge came off the bench to a standing ovation as he made his 200th appearance for Forest Green Rovers.

The gaffer had asked for a reaction after the game on Saturday and it’s safe to say he got one.

Great performance from all the lads and a special mention to POTM, Nick Haughton.

Full-Time: Forest Green 4-2 Woking

Line-ups:

Forest Green: Isted, Mendy (c), McAllister, Haughton (81’ Doidge), Clarke (81’ Bunker), Mingi (29’ Knowles), Buyabu (87’ Morrison), Kircough, Nwoko, Kanu, Rees (87’ Mitchell)

Subs (not used): Pagel, Kengni

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Drewe, Richards, Okoli, Odusina, Andrews, Hinds (65’ Akinola), Syla (46’ Osude), Turner (81’ Beautyman), Gbobe (46’ O’Brien), Sanderson (65’ Akinola)

Subs (not used): Ross, Ward

Attendance: 1,081 (Away – 70)