WE GET PULSES RACING!
Rovers show their class
RACY novelist Jilly Cooper watched Forest Green serve up a blockbuster as her beloved side rubberstamped a place in the play-offs.
Christian Doidge’s 25th league goal of the season and a second-half Liam Noble sizzler made it a day to remember for the worldfamous raunchy writer who sponsored the matchball.
With three wins on the spin, boss Mark Cooper insisted his side are in rude health ahead of the play-offs.
He said: “We are in a decent place. Three clean sheets, three wins. I think we played quite well today and we deserved to win by more.”
Meanwhile, Chester boss Jon McCarthy had no complaints against an in-form Rovers side.
“They had a lot of chances against us,” he said.
“Let’s not kid ourselves, they could have scored some goals in the first half. They dominated the game, they’ve got good players.”
Rovers started on the frontfoot – Doidge thundering his shot onto the base of the post inside the first 30 seconds, and from the corner Rovers could have done with Premier League technology – Omar Bugiel claiming his header had crossed the line after Elliott Durrell cleared.
Six shots on target in the opening 20 minutes emphasised Rovers’ superiority. Bugiel was showing some impish touches and his pass allowed Wigan loanee Kaiyne Woolery to bring out the best from Chester keeper Alex Lynch, who pushed his rocket over the bar. Rovers were full of vitality – Bugiel watching his shot clip off Ryan Astles and onto the bar.
Frustrated, Chester’s Lucas Dawson found his way into the book on the half-hour for a touchline lunge on Dale Bennett.
Rovers were cooking on green gas – Dan Wishart embarked on a mesmerising run, but Lynch was quickly off his line to smother.
Having failed to muster a shot on or off target in the opening 45 minutes, Chester
were stung on 50 minutes. Hot-shot Doidge made it 17 goals in 18 with a clinical finish after intricate passing from Bugiel and Woolery. Rovers hunted a second – Woolery creating space to plant a stinger onto the post. Chester looked for a way back and boss McCarthy made a triple substitution with 20 minutes to go.
But it was Rovers who grabbed a 74th-miunte second – sub Noble planting a sumptuous curler from the edge of the box.
Chester had to wait until two minutes before the death to register a worthwhile effort – Durrell firing over.