MO MAKES HIS MARK AT LAST
BRAGGING rights were shared as local rivals Forest Green and Cheltenham cancelled one another out in a no-holdsbarred Gloucestershire derby at the New Lawn.
Christian Doidge drew first blood for the home side, netting his 12th goal of the season after just seven minutes.
But Cheltenham fought back and deservedly drew level through quicksilver striker Mohamed Eisa’s angled shot in the 39th minute.
Cheltenham enjoyed the better of the second-half exchanges and were denied victory by Rovers keeper Brad Collins, who made a series of important saves.
Robins manager Gary Johnson was disappointed his side did not take all three points, insisting: “It was chance after chance in the second half and we should have put at least one of those away.
“We were the better team and had most of the play, but that that doesn’t count for anything if you don't take your chances. I’m pleased with the way we fought back after giving away a soft goal so early, and our workrate was exceptional, which it needed to be in a derby.
“Mo (Eisa) took his goal really well and would have had a second had it not been for a great save by their keeper (Brad Collins).”
No player in the four English professional leagues has scored more goals than Doidge in 2017 and Forest Green’s talisman required just seven minutes to take his tally for the calendar year to 29.
Robins skipper Jamie Grimes inexplicably failed to cut out a long clearance and Doidge seized his opportunity, bearing down on goal before beating keeper Scott Flinders with an assured finish.
Cheltenham’s defenders appeared unable to handle the rampaging Doidge, who was denied a second only by the quick reactions of Flinders.
Cheltenham weathered the storm and should have drawn level when Harry Pell lent back and sent his shot over a gaping target from ten yards out as Forest Green came under sustained pressure for the first time.
The equaliser the visitors had been threatening materi- alised six minutes before half time, Eisa racing onto Danny Wright’s pass and steering his angled shot inside the far post.
Forest Green lost key player Isaiah Osbourne to injury at half time and were fortunate not to fall behind when Collins, signed on loan from Chelsea, pushed another angled shot from Eisa onto the post.
Relieved to emerge with a point, Forest Green boss Mark Cooper admitted his team had not been at their best.
He said: "I felt the nerves and the occasion got to us. Players need to overcome pressure and they didn’t do that. We got caught up in the occasion. “It was a typical local derby. I was pleased with a point. There was a lot of huff and huff.”