Hard-working March is ‘doing brilliantly’

FOREST Green Rovers head coach Ian Burchnall hailed match-winner Josh March after the front man saw off old club Alvechurch in the second round of the FA Cup on Saturday, writes Josh Evans.

March dived in bravely to turn in the crucial goal in the 2-1 victory just moments after Church had drawn level at the New Lawn.

The striker started his career at Alvechurch in the Midland League before moving to National League North outfit Leamington and then Forest Green.

Burchnall said: “His quality was brilliant. I’ll be honest, I picked him, and I knew he would score today.

“It’s one of those, everyone was talking about March and Alvechurch, you put him up there and he was nailed on to score.

“It was a goal or a red card from him, and thankfully it was a goal.

“He was always going to be in the headlines for something, but I was confident it would be a goal.

“He’s doing brilliantly, he works so hard. Any fan here in the stands must love him because his work rate and endeavour is just fantastic and he’s fully deserving of his goal today.

“He’s there, he’s in the box, he almost created one or two more goals for us in the second half.”

Forest Green’s opening goal at the weekend came through a Connor Wickham penalty after March went down in the box – with the visitors unhappy at the decision.

Burchnall added: “He’s clever, he gets his body across and uses it well. He draws fouls, and I think he knows what he’s doing, but at the same time the defenders got a bit caught up with his feet and I can understand why the referee gives it.”

Forest Green host Cambridge in League One this Saturday before welcoming county rivals Cheltenham the following weekend.

Burchnall said: “That’s really our focus, the reality is that the focus is on December, it’s an important month for us, we’re recovering some players now and I hope we can step up.”