FC Halifax Town were defeated 2-1 away at Forest Green with two goals from Ricardo Rees on his debut for the Gloucestershire side.
New forward Ricardo Rees was straight into the action and got himself into the box and went down under a challenge in the penalty area but referee Ross Martin had his first decision to make and no penalty despite his appeals.
A freekick in the 7th minute gave the home side a set piece just outside the box. Tom Knowles effort was turned away by Sam Johnson and out for a corner.
McAllister’s freekick from the right, looked to get a touch in the box but into the grateful hands of Johnson just before the fifteen-minute mark.
The home side looked like they were going to go ahead in the 18th minute, Neil Kengni ball into the box was met by Ricardo Rees, his header hit the post and came to Babalola but his shot was well blocked inside the six-yard box and Town were able to clear.
Harvey Bunker was the first man in the book on 30 minutes for a shirt pull in midfield for his first foul of the game
After a lot of Forest Green pressure, Cappello’s cross was cut out for their first corner of the game in the 36th minute but Babalola cleared at the near post.
Adam Lakeland was forced into a n early chance in the 38th minute with Josh Hmami having to go off with Thierry Latty-Fairweather replacing him.
Adetoro was booked in the 38th minute following big appeals from Forest Green, the freekick into the box from Tom Knowles found Temi Babalola but his shot was wide of the target
As the game went into first half injury time, Cappello’s cross was blocked for a second corner. Jay Turner-Cooke into the box was headed away at the edge of the penalty area.
Town took the lead within the three minutes of injury time, A throw for the Shaymen on the left hand side saw Adetoro play the ball into Harris, he laid it off perfectly for Turner-Cooke who got in behind and his ball across goal was turned home by Will Hugill for his second goal in three games.
The home side came out at the start of the second half on the front foot and the cross cleared to Harvey Bunker, but his effort was sliced over the bar.
A short corner found Knowles at the edge of the box, but Town blocked well for another corner. The ball in tempted Johnson to come for it and Mendy headed the ball over the bar.
FGR were handed a chance from a poor back pass from Hobson to Johnson, Babalola was able to intercept, played the ball back but good defending by Warburton and Hobson ensured they didn’t get a chance at goal with Johnson not in his goal.
Hugill did really well down the right and got to the box, found Warburton and his shot was blocked at the edge of the area. The ball came to Latty-Fairweather, but he was unable to make anything from it.
Forest Green equalised in the 67th minute, Tom Knowles down the right up against Cappello and his cross looked for Mendy and his shot was blocked and Rees was on hand to score on his debut following his signing this week.
Mendy had the goal in his sight a minute later, but his effort was wide of the target from distance and then the ball was played again into Rees and he had just Johnson to beat but Johnson was able to save with his legs.
The game was turned around in the 78th minute, a cross from the left- hand side went all the way to the far post and Rees doubled his goal tally for the afternoon.
Warburton up against Neil Kengni on the right, his cross was put out for a corner. Turner-Cooke’s ball into the box was a good one, it fell to Hobson who put the ball into the net for for what looked like an equaliser but the assistant referee’s flag was up for offside, which couldn’t have been for Hobson himself.
Rees was denied a hattrick with five minutes to go as he hit the woodwork for the 2nd time this afternoon.
Another Town corner saw Will Smith head over the bar, he had time in injury time to have another effort at goal but straight at the goalkeeper
A late chance from Turner-Cooke had to be blocked on the line as Town threw everything but the final whistle brought the game to an end.
Town will feel aggrieved with the disallowed goal but return north with nothing for their efforts.
Next Game: FC Halifax Town vs Anstey Nomads: Sat 10th Jan, 3pm kick-off.
Match Stats
Forest Green Rovers
42 Harry Isted, 3 Neil Kengni (22 Max Robson 88), 5 Ryan Inniss (18 Isaac Moore 76), 6 Laurent Mendy ©, 7 Kyle McAllister, 11 Tom Knowles, 16 Harvey Bunker (23 Jili Buyabu 64), 25 Harry Whitwell, 27 Temi Babalola, 32 Abraham Kanu, 45 Ricardo Rees (29 Kairo Mitchell 88)
Subs 12 Fiachra Pagel, 8 Nick Haughton, 14 Jayden Clarke
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson ©, 3 Adam Adetoro (17 Owen Bray 88), 4 Will Hugill (18 Florent Hoti 88), 5 Shaun Hobson, 8 Josh Hmami (36 Thierry Latty-Fairweather 37), 9 Will Harris, 11 Angelo Cappello (22 David Kawa 75), 15 Will Smith, 19 AJ Warburton, 27 Jay Turner-Cooke, 30 Cody Johnson
Subs 12 Nat Ford 16 Jevon Mills, 18 Florent Hoti, 29 Sean Tarima
Goals: Hugill 45 + 2, Rees 67, 78
Yellow Cards: Bunker 30, Adetoro 38, C Johnson 60, Turner-Cooke 90 + 2
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 2436 (122 away)
Forest Green Rovers 2 FC Halifax Town 1
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