Report: Harrogate Town 0-1 Forest Green Rovers

Report: Harrogate Town 0-1 Forest Green Rovers
Stevens goal gives Rovers first win of campaign

August 12th 2023FGR Media

Matty Stevens' second half goal ended Forest Green Rovers' 378 day wait for a league away win, beating Harrogate Town 1-0 at the EnviroVent Stadium on Saturday.

Rovers knocked on the door early, but it took 23 minutes for Tyrese Omotoye to test the Harrogate goalkeeper.

Charlie McCann did well to find Omotoye inside the area who turned to fire an effort across goal, but Mark Oxley did well to stick a foot out and block the effort leaving the 20-year-old still searching for his first league goal.

Just a minute later, Stevens got into a similar position after being picked out by Callum Jones but saw his effort blocked quickly by Warren Burrell.

However, the hosts did threaten throughout the first period and went close just before half time when Sam Folarin wriggled into the Rovers area and tried his luck only to send the effort straight into Luke Daniels’ arms.

A sluggish first period needed a response and whatever David Horseman said at half time worked as inside the opening minute of the second half, Stevens put Rovers ahead.

Omotoye was sent down the right and was given time to cut inside, sending a curling effort goalward into Stevens, who was unmarked, and glanced a header past Oxley.

Harrogate threw everything at Rovers in the latter stages, but Daniels was in a resilient mood, first fantastically stopping a Liam Daly effort from six yards out before beating away Folarin’s near post attempt minutes later.

Despite the positive result, Rovers will be hoping for good news after Jones was taken off after a landing awkwardly on his left leg and left the stadium on crutches.

Horseman and his side have a quick turnaround now as they prepare to welcome Swindon Town to The New Lawn on Tuesday night.