Forest Green 1 Tamworth 2
FOREST GREEN ROVERS 1 TAMWORTH 2
FOREST Green suffered a second Blue Square Bet Premier defeat in four days, and it was a case of The Racecourse revisited as a flat first half proved fatal.
An unfortunate own goal by Chris Stokes fuelled calls for goal-line technology in Nailsworth, but impressive Tamworth cashed in to double their half-time lead through the prolific Adam Cunnington.
Jamie Collins hauled the hosts back into it just after the hour mark, prompting another green cavalry charge which was admirable but unsuccessful.
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There was a Rovers debut for Paul Green, the utility man deputising for suspended central defender Eddie Oshodi against his former club.
James Norwood's late goal at Wrexham earned him a recall at the expense of Magno Vieira, while Steve Brogan was handed his first start in midfield in place of the injured Al Bangura.
Brogan fed Stokes for a decent opportunity inside five minutes, and the left-back's powerful drive had to be tipped around the post by Lambs keeper Tony Breedon.
A quick counter-attack four minutes later had the visitors stretched again, and Matty Taylor's deep cross was headed into the side-netting by Norwood.
Norwood looked in the mood, and his mazy run and shot brought a decent stop from Breedon before Jamie Turley was booked for punching the resulting corner into the net.
Tamworth's ranks included former Rovers man Tommy Wright, and he was wayward with a decent headed opportunity from Richard Tait's cross.
Otherwise the hosts looked comfortable, only to fall behind in the 22nd minute when giant striker Cunnington beat Green to a hanging cross and Stokes' botched attempt at a clearance was adjudged to have crossed the line by the officials.
Still reeling, Forest Green fell foul of referee Graham Horwood again two minutes later when skipper Collins was penalised for handball inside the area.
It looked like more of a ricochet than deliberate foul play, but Cunnington showed no mercy in drilling home the resulting spot-kick for his tenth goal of the season.
Dave Hockaday made a double substitution at the start of the second period, replacing Brogan and Ben Wright with Yan Klukowski and Vieira.
But Tamworth continued to look dangerous, and Greg Taylor should have produced better than his tame shot straight at Russell after bursting into the box from the left.
Collins fired over from 20 yards at the other end, but two minutes later Green had to produce a fine block from Cunnington's fiercely struck effort.
The next goal was now certain to be a game changer, and it was Rovers who grabbed it on 61 minutes when Vieira's inswinging free-kick was flicked on for a diving Collins to net at the far post.
A glorious chance fell to the midfielder from the very next attack, but he failed to keep his shot down after pouncing on a panicky clearance.
Klukowski did likewise with a set piece from 25 yards, and Stokes was annoyed not to hit the target with a free header from a 73rd minute corner.
Breedon beat away a Vieira shot as the pressure grew, and a desperate clearance off the line by Richard Tait denied Matty Taylor in the fourth minute of added time.
Forest Green: S. Russell; E. Asafu-Adjaye, J. Turley, P. Green, C. Stokes; K. Forbes (O. Koroma 79), J. Collins, S. Brogan (M. Vieira 46); J. Norwood, M. Taylor, B. Wright (Y. Klukowski 46); Subs not used: J. Hodgkiss, A. Racine.
Tamworth: T. Breedon; R. Tait, D. Courtney, T. Marshall, M. Kelly (P. Till 71); L. Kerry, G. Baldock, L. Hendrie (S. Oji 85), G. Taylor; T. Wright, A. Cunnington; Subs not used: C. Gudger, C. Collins, D. Belford.
Referee: G. Horwood (Beds)
Attendance: 1,022
Star man: Ed Asafu-Adjaye
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