Match Report

Right: Matt Doughty, Greg Young and James Smith deal with FGR's Michael Symons

Though Altrincham kicked off, Andy Ralph had to make a flying save from Symons after just 20 seconds. However the opening stages were genrally scrappy but, after a poor corner from Doughty, the ball soon came back into the box from the right as Johnson did well and, as Little went to poke it home, new signing Kempson seemed to help it into his own net (4 mins). Though the matchday announcer recorded it as an own goal, subsequent media reports gave the goal to the Alty striker.

Following a foul by Danylyk, FGR failed to capitalise on the freekick and more scrappy play was witnessed before Rovers won a corner, when Ralph and Densmore got into a mix-up to the right of goal. The veteran Gill then had to make a fine tackle to stop Senior on the edge of the box at the other end (13 mins). Play continued unexceptionally with FGR having more of the ball. But, midway through the half, Alty won two successive corners courtesy of good work from Johnson who had the beating of Stonehouse on the FGR left (23 mins).

Soon afterwards, Johnson again did well on the right of the front three, forcing a good block from Burton (26 mins). Densmore, who was limping, was now replaced by Peyton (28 mins). As a consequence, Lawton moved to the right as Peyton initially went into the centre of midfield. Before the substitute could settle, Alty doubled their lead. A mistake by Mohamed allowed the ball to come from Lawton to Senior, who cleverly chipped it over the keeper to make it 2-0 (29 mins). It got even better three minutes later when Little's ball from the right was missed by a defender allowing Senior to convert again from close range (32 mins). Alty had not led 3-0 away since last season's Salisbury game which ended 3-3, so Alty fans were still anxious!

Forest Green won the next corner from the tall Low's cross but, after this, their keeper, Burton, flapped badly at a cross but got away with it. However, Rovers now got back into the game as Symons nodded on a punt upfield setting up Mangan and the former Accrington man made it 3-1 (39 mins).

After losing the ball, Lawton then received his seventh booking of the season for a foul (42 mins). Alty kept Rovers at bay but, during the two added minutes at the end of the half, there was an amusing incident when Symons passed the ball to the referee, who like FGR was clad in black. Both player and official saw the funny side but it begged the question why Mr Burt was not in a differently coloured top.

Forest Green kicked off and, as in the first half, play was initially fairly scrappy. Early on, Ralph gathered a weak header (48 mins) and Rovers won a corner soon after this, when Lawton did well to head out a cross from the right at the back post (49 mins). Johnson relieved the pressure by winning a corner for Alty who were now playing 4-4-2 rather than their initial 3-4-3, Doughty having dropped back on the left (53 mins).

The hosts were now making the running and won two corners, following which Alty survived a spell of pinball in their box. Up front, Senior harried superbly to stop Burton shepherding the ball out for a goalkick but FGR got the ball away. At the other end Peyton got in a fine tackle, just before Meechan came on to face his former club, replacing Little.

Soon after this, Conal Platt, the former Weymouth man, replaced Mohamed for Rovers. Alty continued to soak up the pressure fairly comfortably, much of it orchestrated by midfielder Simon Clist, whilst Low also posed a threat on the right. Just after Ralph had caught an aerial ball well, Doughty - who had just been lectured for a trip - was booked for another offence (67 mins).

Following a Peyton freekick Alty won a corner, which Peyton overhit. McGregor then produced great piece of covering, after a rare lapse by Young who had another good game. This was followed by Senior winning a corner at the other end (70 mins). When Senior chased a through-ball, Burton had to come out to head clear, but Meechan handled whilst controlling the ball.

Les Afful, making his 100th appearance, now replaced striker Symons (72 mins), who bizarrely was later named Man of the Match in a game in which he was not even on the field for 20 minutes! FGR continued to press before Elam replaced the hard-working Johnson for Altrincham (76 mins). After some brief relief, when Alty won a corner, FGR continued to press but generally ineffectually. Gill was now withdrawn for the hosts with his replacement being Thomas (79 mins).

Despite some neat passing, the nearest that Rovers came to a goal was when Mangan got free on the right and, though Ralph slipped as he came out, the keeper recovered enough to induce the striker to fire wildly over (82 mins). Alty now came back into the game as Elam and Senior kept the opponents occupied on the break. Indeed, it took a smart stop by Burton to block an Elam effort (87mins).

In the last of the four added minutes, Jones and Stonehouse combined well, up the left, but the ball went across the goalmouth to safety. And so, Alty recorded their first win at the New Lawn to climb four places to twelfth - the top half of the table. Once again, Alty's impressive work ethic had gained its reward.