Memorial Stadium Saturday, October 18th, 2014   Conference Attendance: 7,014       Bristol Rovers 0-1 Forest Green Rovers
2014 /15

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Bristol Rovers FC 0 Forest Green Rovers 1 Forest Green Rovers Date: 18/10/2014 3:00 pm Attendance: 7014 Venue: Away Coles makes memorable Gasheads return Bristol Rovers FC Away Danny Coles returned to the Memorial Stadium to haunt his old club and to secure Forest Green Rovers a magnificent three points against former Football League giants, Bristol Rovers, writes Richard Joyce. The central defenders first half header was enough to add another milestone to Forest Green’s portfolio of memorable results in seventeen years as a Football Conference club. It also made Ady Pennock’s side the first team this season to go to the Memorial Stadium and take away all three points. Coles’ header did the trick in a tight contest which was brilliantly grounded out by FGR against a Gasheads side that blew several key opportunities. Dale Bennett earned his first start of the season at the right of the back four in place of skipper and former Bristol Rovers man David Pipe, who was named among the substitutes. As a result, Coles took the armband, and as part of a rock solid back four, helped Forest Green to their fifth clean sheet of the campaign. A cagey start reflected the last meeting between the two clubs at The New Lawn in front of the BT Sport cameras in August. FGR however were working the ball brilliantly in attacking areas, and neat build up play saw Luke Rodgers and James Norwood combine after only nine minutes. Norwood, who captained the England C team in their International Champions Trophy match in Turkey in midweek, couldn’t find a way past the experienced Steve Mildenhall in the Pirates goal though as he stood up tall to deflect the ball over the bar. Kurtis Guthrie then tried his luck with a diving header from a fierce Bennett cross, while Jon Parkin’s long distance and low free kick was initially spilled by Mildenhall, who made up for his error by blocking Norwood’s follow up attempt. It was from that Mildenhall save, with the ball forced out for a corner, which would see FGR go ahead in front of the 7,000 watching Bristolians. Rob Sinclair’s typically accurate corner delivery caused difficulties for the home defenders, and Coles took full advantage by nodding on past the stranded Mildenhall. Coles, born and bred in the city, savoured the moment, and he played a key part in the next phase of the game which saw the home side look to respond at speed. Former FGR man Matty Taylor was denied while Luton Town loanee, Dave Martin, struck a shot wide too. Forest Green were finding gaps in behind the Bristol Rovers defence, and further good interplay work saw the energetic Rodgers lift the ball just past the post when approaching the half hour mark. Rodgers then went close again when he got on the end of a delicious Marcus Kelly delivery. However the former Notts County man couldn’t direct his header on target. Jake Gosling, who had been away recently representing Gibraltar in the Euro 2016 qualifiers, then wasted a marvellous opportunity minutes before the half time whistle. The one time Gloucester City loan man side-footed his left footed effort when fed by Taylor straight at Sam Russell who gathered with ease. He forced Russell into a more testing stop at the start of the second half which the FGR keeper was equal to. The hosts were looking to start brightly in the second 45 minutes as frustration in the home crowd grew. However it looked like it wasn’t going to be their day when on 52 minutes, and clean through on goal, Taylor blasted over horribly with just Russell to beat. If that looked as though it was going to be effective, then the games next major incident certainly was. Daniel Leadbitter, who had provided a threat down the right hand side all afternoon for the hosts, was shown a straight red card after being judged to have scythed down the advancing Guthrie by the referee. Frustration amongst the home faithful grew, and it continued to boil over when Martin headed across the face of goal from a Gosling cross in the 68th minute. Neal Trotman added to the home side’s woes, as his header from a Lee Mansell corner flew dreadfully over the goal frame when he had managed to lose his marker. Time was running out for Bristol Rovers, but FGR dealt with the closing stages professionally, even having a shout for a penalty. Kelly’s high and wide free kick attempt late on was coupled with what appeared to be a foul on Elliott Frear when dashing on goal from a wide angle. Having managed to see out an additional five minutes of stoppage time, Forest Green’s mission to become the first team to win at the Memorial Stadium this season had been completed, all in front of a marvellous army of travelling FGR supporters who will look forward to next week's first venture, in the FA Cup.