By Gary Baker

Slimbridge 2

Forest Green Rovers 3

SLIMBRIDGE gave an excellent account of themselves to celebrate the renaming of their stadium as Thornhill Park.

They may have lost to Vanarama National League Forest Green Rovers but there were plenty of plus points for manager Leon Sterling to take away from it as the new Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West League opener looms nearer.

Slimbridge equalised twice through striker Sean Lawson but it was the defence which deserved a lot of credit for a great second-half performance that denied their opponents an equaliser until one mistake let them in.

Forest Green, who started with new goalkeeper Simon Lefebvre between the sticks, had the lion's share of the opening exchanges as Rhys Murphy showed his football league style up front.

Just six minutes into the match, Murphy was left unmarked on the edge of the Slimbridge penalty area and made the home side pay dearly by firing the ball sweetly to the left of Pete Davies.

And such was the cleaness of the strike that even a full stretch, Davies was unable to keep it out.

Another super Forest Green strike saw Darren Carter make the home cross bar rattle uncontrollable as if stunned by an electric shock.

It seemed like Forest Green were looking to enjoy an easy Monday night training run against the Swans - but Slimbridge had other ideas.

The Southern League side hassled their more illustrious opponents with excellent man marking and deservedly - and to the delight of the home fans - drew level.

It was a very well worked goal too as Tyler Brock latched onto a ball down the right wing and level with the penalty area.

To all intense and purposes, covering Forest Green right back Harry Hickford was odds on to stop the attack with a sliding tackle but somehow Brock got a telling cross into the danger zone that found Lawson lurcking and at point blank range.

He could not miss and he gave Lefebvre no chance to hit home the equaliser.

That certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons although Forest Green thundered back in reply. Matt Tubbs was given a great chance inside the home penalty area from a Murphy throughball but was denied a possible goal when centre-back Rich Thwaite threw his leg into the ball's path and deflected it for a corner.

Forest Green would not be denied a second and got it on twenty minutes when a Tubbs shot fired into the Slimbridge net brought a fine save from Davies yet he could only push the ball into the path of Mo Chamlal, lurking on the post, who fired home with Davies stranded.

The Swans kept up their workrate, though, and stunned Rovers on the stroke of half time when Lawson was left unmarked on the edge of the goal area and sent the ball into the corner for a second equaliser.

Forest Green turned up the volume on the home side for twenty minutes after the break but the tight marking of the Swans just frustrated the National League outfit.

Sub Joe Stokes twisted and turned up front but found a wall of blue shirts preventing him getting a clean strike on target.

And as it seemed that Slimbridge may hold out for a draw, a mistake on the left gifted the ball to Murphy who clincally drove the ball into the back of the Slimbridge net from ten yards.

A rare Slimbridge excursion near the Forest Green penalty area saw Jamie Martin hauled down but the subsequent free kick from Jack Oroham flew harmlessly over the bar.

And Thwaite was gifted a golden chance to level again as Slimbridge got behind the Forest Green back four only for their defender to just miss the scoring touch with the net gaping.

Slimbridge (4-3-3): P Davies; S Turl, A Hoyle (c), Ri Thwaite, Ry Thwaite; D Turner, J Twyman, A Haskayne; S Lawson, T Brock, J Cant. Rolling subs: F Ward, J Oldham, A Mace, J Martin, L Orchard.

Forest Green (3-5-2): S Lefebvre (J Maxted, 46); H Hickford, A Racine, J Moran; M Chemlal (T Anderson 74), W Elliott, M Kelly (J Stokes 36), D Carter, B Jefford; M Tubbs (B Davies 81), R Murphy (O Mehew 76).

Referee: S Oakey.

Att: 426.

Star man: Sean Lawson (Slimbridge).