RUTHLESS ROVERS SIT FERRI PRETTY AT THE TOP

CLASSY Forest Green Rovers maintained their two-point advantage at the top of the National League table with another away success – but they were made to work hard for the points by battling strugglers North Ferriby.

While the Villagers kept the lively Rovers strikers at bay, they could do nothing about centre-back pair Ethan Pinnock and Charlie Clough, who headed the visitors into a two-goal lead before substitute Christian Doidge wrapped things up with a third in injury time.

“There was no atmosphere and no tempo,” surmised Rovers boss Mark Cooper. “It’s the worst we’ve played. I had to keep changing my formation. This is a difficult place to come to so I’m happy with three goals and a clean sheet, though the score was perhaps harsh on Ferriby.”

That said, Rovers did con- jure up the best of the first-half chances with Rhys Murphy blazing over the bar from close-range when he was well-placed and Liam Noble fired over following a good three-man move.

Rovers’ neat passing football always posed a threat but when the opening goal arrived on 43 minutes it was controversial. Darren Carter appeared to trip over his own feet as he turned on the touchline but referee Thomas Bramall, to most people’s surprise, awarded a free-kick.

Liam Noble launched high into the Ferriby goalmouth where Pinnock rose to head home.

Ferriby finished the half with a Steve Brogan freekick that curled just wide of the top corner, but it was Rovers again who set the tone from the re-start, without really troubling home goalkeeper Rory Watson. Their failure to add to their advantage prompted Ferriby to enjoy their best spell of the match. Vinny Mukendi’s header flew straight into the arms of keeper Sam Russell before going close twice in the space of a minute. First, Reece Thompson had a shot cleared off the line and, from the resulting corner, Mark Gray’s downward header hit the ground and bounced over the bar. And ruthless Rovers made them pay on 75 minutes when Noble’s corner from the left was headed home in the sixyard box by Clough. Ferriby failed to threaten with any efforts on goal after this but the visitors’ third goal was harsh on the home side. Elliott Frear broke through the middle and hit his shot against the post only for Doidge to tap in to an empty goal. Frustrated North Ferriby boss Steve Housham said: “The worrying thing is that we are creating chances but not scoring. We are in a run of games against the top teams and we are playing well but when key decisions go against you it is frustrating. “The players gave everything and I can’t ask for more from them.”