Forest Green Rovers made it three league wins in a row with a 4–2 victory over ten-man Tamworth at The New Lawn.
After Jordan Cullinane-Liburd was sent off early, Tamworth took a surprise lead through Manny Duku, but Rovers hit back quickly as Kyle McAllister levelled from the spot and Temi Babalola put them ahead before half-time.
Babalola headed in his second after the break, before Nick Haughton sealed the points late on. Joseph Rye netted a consolation for the visitors, but Rovers’ strong display lifted them up to third in the Enterprise National League.
First-Half:
It was a fast start to the game in wet and windy conditions at The New Lawn this evening, with Tamworth finding themselves down to ten men after the 5th minute when Jordan Cullinane-Liburd was shown a straight red card following a heavy challenge on Isaac Moore. Temi Babalola had an excellent chance to put the Green Army in front on twelve minutes after finding himself one-on-one, but could not convert.
However, it was The Lambs who found themselves in front only ten minutes later, after Manny Duku lobbed Harry Isted, who was caught far from his line, to see the ball sail into the North Stand goal.
Rovers piled on the pressure in the next twenty minutes, with Babalola seeing an acrobatic effort hit the upright on the 30th minute.
Rovers were back level on the 33rd minute after Jayden Clarke was fouled in the area, and Kyle McAllister was there again to slot home — the Scot now scoring four in his last three appearances in all competitions.
Only three minutes later, Rovers were in front after Babalola finally found his first goal in a Rovers shirt, tapping the ball home at the back post to complete an electric, fast Rovers turnaround.
Half-time: Forest Green 2–1 Tamworth
Second-Half:
Rovers continued the second half as they ended the first, with Whitwell striking from 25 yards out on 47 minutes, and Tamworth keeper Jasbir Singh denying Jayden Clarke on the 51st minute.
As the hour mark struck, Temi Babalola scored his second of the game after Jili Buyabu delivered a deep ball to the back post for Babalola to rise highest and give Rovers a two-goal cushion going into the final thirty minutes.
Nick Haughton all but put the game to bed on the 81st minute, running onto the end of a McAllister through ball to drive at the retreating Lambs’ defence before drilling the ball into the bottom-right corner.
Tamworth bagged themselves a consolation goal only two minutes earlier, as an unmarked Joseph Rye headed past Isted into the bottom-left-hand corner.
Both McAllister and wideman Tom Knowles had chances deep into injury time to add to Rovers’ goal tally, but both efforts were well saved by the Tamworth shot-stopper.
A third league win on the bounce for Rovers sees them lift themselves up into third place in the Enterprise National League.
Full-time: Forest Green 4–2 Tamworth
Forest Green Rovers: Isted, Inniss (Kanu, 46), Mendy, Buyabu, McAllister, Clarke (Dausch, 75), Moore-Taylor (Haughton, 22), Moore (Bunker 61), Pemberton (Knowles, 61), Whitwell, Babalola.
Subs not used: Pagel, Kengni.
Tamworth: Singh, Cockerill-Mollett (Curley, 66), Tonks, Digie, Bates, Duku (Creaney ,79), Enoru (Lynch, 76), Donkor, Cullinane-Liburd (Sent off, 5), Maher (Rye, 66), Ponitcelli (Hollis, 9).
Subs not used: Mols, De Silva,
Attendance: 1472 (44 Away)
