ROVERS DO A JOB ON HEED

FOREST Green produced a text book smash-and-grab raid on Tyneside to end Gateshead’s 100% home record.

- Jeff Bowron

Steve Cotterill’s men started the game on fire, their energetic high press forcing Gateshead on to the back foot.

After Tom Knowles shot just past the far post Rovers took a sixth-minute lead when Liam Sercombe’s 12yard shot deflected off Luke Hannant and into the roof of the net.

It was a shaky opening quarter of an hour from Gateshead but they went on to dominate the rest of the game racking up 21 efforts at goal and a 14-1 corner count.

But there was no way past a magnificent Forest Green rearguard, Rovers adding insult to injury with an undeserved second goal six minutes into stoppage time.

Gates head manager Rob Elliot was delighted with his side’s response to their 7-1 mauling at Dagenham & Redbridge last weekend, but frustrated by the result.