Steve Cotterill hails “brave” Forest Green Rovers side who ensured all three points with a clean sheet win over Maidenhead United.
Cotterill made two changes to the starting XI, with last week’s goal scorer Jordon Garrick and Harvey Bunker coming in for Brandon Fleming and Luke McCormick, while Liam Sercombe returned to the bench.
Forest Green took the lead 11 minutes in when an unmarked Emmanuel Osadebe fired home from a corner.
Substitute Harry Cardwell made Rovers second-half dominance count when he arrowed home the second.
“We started much brighter today, and that’s a bit of a key,” said the FGR boss. Cotterill also praised Osadebe with a 'great' performance this afternoon.
“We surprised them (Maidenhead), we had that flexibility in us today.
“In the first half we got some good tackles and good blocks in and around the 18-yard box but what you don’t want is one of them to go in.”
A delighted Cotterill continued: “I’m really pleased with and for the lads, we go two-nil up and you see us playing completely different, because they’re more relaxed.”
Rovers' first chance came from Kyle McAllister’s whipped corner which was met by a Ryan Inniss header that was deflected up.
Innis charged in for the second attempt, with the ball ricocheting to the back post where Osadebe was on hand to volley home.
Maidenhead’s first chance came when Sam Barratt took aim from distance and struck narrowly wide.
Tristan Abrahams then hit the bar for the visitors from his in-swinging cross.
Rovers continued their dominance of the ball at the start of the second half, and Joe Quigley came close to doubling Rovers lead, dragging his effort just wide, after a sharp passing move down the right.
Maintaining the momentum, Osadebe exploited space on the right hand side, cutting in and having his effort blocked before Ross saved the rebound from McAllister.
For Rovers second, Osadebe latched onto a through ball, cutting the ball back to Cardwell inside the box.
Composing himself with a touch, he then smashed the ball into the top corner.
“A brilliant finish, I’m delighted for him and so are the boys,” Cotterill explained.
"I'm happy that I've got that monkey off my back," said Cardwell. "Hopefully I can kick on and keep helping the team pushing for wins.
"It's a really good group of forwards we have in there, we all want each other and when it's one of us on the pitch, we're all willing that person to score goals.
"There's a really good feel amongst the group and a chance to solidify that position towards the top."
Rovers next game is a mid-week visit to play-off chasing FC Halifax Town.
Starting XI - Mrozek (GK), Inniss ©, Osadebe (86’ Long), McAllister (86’ Sercombe), McCann, Bunker, Robson (86’ Fleming), May, Quigley (81’ Doidge), Garrick (63’ Cardwell), Harries
Unused subs - Knowles, McCormick
Player of the Match – Emmanuel Osadebe
Attendance – 1,800 (101 away)
Referee – Abigail Byrne
