Defensive durability and forward fluency marked either half in this engrossing contest as Fleet put in yet another impressive and gutsy display against a promotion contender. Third-placed Forest Green were good value in the first-half but couldn’t find a way past a resolute red defence and the Fleet pushed on after the break to dominate the second period.

There were three changes following the performance against York City, with Mark Cousins returning, alongside Rakish Bingham and Kwame Thomas, which meant Lucas Covolan, Franklin Domi and Aaron Cosgrave moved aside.

Forest Green named new loan signing Brandon Fleming from Hull City out left while midfielder Liam Sercombe chalked up his 701st senior appearance.

The visitors started well and new man Fleming earned their first corner with a decisive run and shot that skewed off a Fleet knee but Thomas cleared the inswinging set-piece.

Fleet got forward on seven minutes as George Moncur’s strength on the ball released Alex Lankshear who did well to skip past Manny Osadebe but he overhit his cross into the away fans.

Osadebe was next on the offensive, overlapping well off Kyle McAllister to deliver a pacy low cross that Aaron Bolger had to knock behind for Rovers’ third corner in 12 minutes.

Both sides were guilty of some cavalier passing at times but Christian Doidge’s stumble on 21 minutes almost cost the visitors as Bolger gladly accepted possession and played in Bingham but his hurried shot flew too high.

Forest Green had a fluidity across their attacking players but try as they might to make it work, Fleet’s disciplined line in front of them stuck to their task. From the half-hour point, Rovers sent numerous searching balls into the box that Fleet defenders had to be alert to.

And the men in red might have gone in at the break ahead after an excellent move three minutes before half-time. Tom Dallison found Moncur who surged into the box and pinged an inviting delivery into the six-yard area. Toby Edser and Bingham were racing in to convert but an initial effort was blocked before Edser’s follow-up just wouldn’t stay down.

The title chasers came out with intent after the half-time break and McAllister got a shot on target that Cousins had to get low to collect. His opposite number Fabian Mrozek, on loan from Liverpool, then twice denied Olagunju, first when the defender kept a forward run going and almost beat the goalkeeper to the ball and then from a header that Mrozek appeared to tip over the bar but no corner was awarded.

Another header, this time from Dallison who connected with a Moncur corner on 54 minutes, was glanced wide as the Fleet defender rose unchallenged. A short while later Dallison found himself in the book after referee Aaron Farmer, who had shown more restraint than his colleague from Saturday, had ignored several repeat fouls by green shirts in the first-half.

However, Fleet almost benefitted from Mr Farmer turning down Rovers’ appeals for a foul on 63 minutes, allowing Josh Passley some daylight down the right and he found Thomas, whose incursion into the visitors’ box was charged down.

That was Thomas’s last action and substitutes Domi and Cosgrave combined immediately as the former sent a low shot into Mrozek’s arms.

Domi was involved again for Fleet’s best chance 20 minutes from the end. A fabulous run from Lankshear opened up Forest Green and Domi helped the ball wide to Passley who took a touch to beat his man but couldn’t outwit Mrozek with the shot.

Passley was up again at the far post to meet a deep cross as Fleet’s belief increased the more their high-flying visitors toiled. On 75 minutes, Moncur sprinted through the middle on the break with both Cosgrave and Domi in support. He opted to spread play right to Domi who tried to place a shot into the corner but that too was blocked for a corner.

Fleet kept coming and couldn’t believe it when Mrozek’s double save denied them yet again, the first from a header before the keeper got back to his feet to clutch Domi’s follow-up out of the air. Moments later, the goalkeeper was there once more, getting a hand to Cosgrave’s low effort after the substitute had just about managed to stay onside from Bolger’s pass.

As time ticked down, Fleet had established themselves as the better side of the second-half but Rovers saved their most dangerous moments for the end. Cousins made an excellent point-blank stop from Joe Quigley and then Harry Cardwell struck the next ball across on target, a Fleet body bravely thrown in the way to keep it out.

Three minutes were signalled and that was just enough for another Moncur power run as he unsettled the defenders in front of him before smashing a shot wide while man of the match Bolger whipped over another effort with Forest Green hanging on.

Hang on they did but it was the Fleet fans who perhaps felt disappointed not to have won… a sure sign that this side is turning that corner.

EUFC: Cousins, Passley (Chapman 84), Stewart, Olagunju, Dallison, Lankshear, Bolger, Edser, Moncur, Bingham (Domi 66), Thomas (Cosgrave 66). Subs: Samuel, Manktelow, Aoraha, Covolan,
FGRFC: Mrozek, Robson, Fleming (Garrick 86), Harries, Inniss, May, Sercombe (McCormick 46), Osadebe, McCann, McAllister (Cardwell 86), Doidge (Quigley 70). Subs: Long, Tozer, Bunker
Attendance: 1,057 (114 away)
Photos: ©EUFC/Tom Harris

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