Delighted Edwards hails quality of Rovers strikes
FOREST GREEN SALFORD CITY 3 1
FOREST Green Rovers head coach Rob Edwards hailed three goals “good enough to win any game” as the League Two leaders extended their advantage at the top of the standings to five points with a hard-earned win over Salford.
Nicky Cadden’s inch-perfect freekick, Kane Wilson’s outstanding individual goal and Jack Aitchison’s fine drive following a neat passing move ensured the Green Devils came out on top after Brandon Asante had fired the visitors into a 17th-minute lead.
Edwards said: “It was a really tough game. Full credit to Salford, they’ve got some very good players, and they’re a good team.
“We wanted to try to start with intensity today, and I thought we did that. We had a chance after about a minute with Ebou Adams’ header that went over.
“I thought we showed real intent, but then so did Salford, both teams were really trying to go for it, and I felt for a long time that the game was in the balance.
“But I’m delighted that we’ve gone behind in a game and then shown the character to come back and win.
“Overall, I’m very, very proud of the players. I thought they showed real togetherness today, and a lot of bravery to keep going.
“I thought as they game went on we got stronger and stronger and stronger.
“And the three goals to win the game were good enough to win a match at any level of football.”
Forest Green showed attacking intent from the off, with Adams heading just off-target from Wilson’s fine cross early on, before defender Baily Cargill spotted Salford stopper Connor Ripley off his line and only just cleared the crossbar with an attempt from halfway.
However, it was the visitors that took the lead just after the quarterhour mark when Asante made room to fire beyond Luke McGee.
Edwards’ men fought back though, and only an outstanding reaction save from Ripley prevented Matty Stevens from equalising as his firsttime shot was turned away from the top corner of the net.
Right on half-time, however, the hosts were back on level terms. The latest in a series of Salford fouls gave the Green Devils a free-kick 25 yards from goal and Cadden bent a superb effort over the wall and beyond the diving Ripley to equalise – his fifth goal of the season.
The second period was somewhat tighter, but Wilson made a terrific breakthrough with a little under 20 minutes remaining.
The right wing-back burst past several players on his way infield before cutting back on the edge of the box and rifling a wonderful strike into the top corner of Ripley’s net.
In truth, Salford never really looked like hitting back, and they were put out of their misery in injury-time when some slick passing concluded with Jamille Matt teeing up Aitchison for a clinical low finish. Forest Green: McGee, Bernard, Moore-Taylor (Godwin-Malife 53), Cargill, Wilson, Stevenson, Hendry (Aitchison 57), Cadden, Adams, Matt, Stevens (March 87). Not Used: Evans, Young, Diallo, Thomas.
Booked: Moore-Taylor.
Goals: Cadden 45, Wilson 71, Aitchison 90.
Salford: Ripley, Shephard, Eastham, Turnbull, Touray, Ndaba (Golden 46), Lund, Thomas-Asante, Willock, Hunter (Wright 29), Elliott (Oteh 79). Not Used: Smith, Jeacock, N’Mai, Kirnon.
Booked: Touray, Elliott, Lund.
Goals: Thomas-Asante 17.
Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).