Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage insisted his side can go on to lift the National League title after they were held to a thrilling 1–1 draw by rivals York City in a lively clash at The New Lawn.
Kairo Mitchell’s fifth-minute opener gave Savage’s side the advantage before Ollie Pearce netted from the penalty spot on 14 minutes to leave the title protagonists sharing the points.
Unbeaten in the embryonic stages of the season, and boasting confidence in spades the Rovers boss chirped: “Boreham Wood, Rochdale, Carlisle, York, Southend — all of them believe they can win the league. One of us will, and our job is to make sure it’s us.
“We want to win the league and believe we can.”
GAFFER TAPES – listen to Robbie Savage’s unabridged York City match synopsis
Savage even enjoyed a pre-match masterclass from England and Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle: “I spoke to Glenn Hoddle this morning for some advice on management and he’s helped me – I hope he watched the game today, but he’s probably watching the golf, but today was a big moment for me and I think me and my staff have made positive changes during the game. I thought York were good without hurting us and haven’t really played through us.”
Savage heaped praise on the growing influence of combative midfielder Laurent Mendy, he added: “It is a good job we’ve got Mendy for three years – he’s incredible. Four seasons ago he was playing in the 10th 11th tier. Now look at him as the player of the match on TV, bossing it against experienced players – a sensational performance from the kid and I’m just glad I can give players an opportunity at a wonderful football club.”
A blistering start saw Rovers seize the initiative, catching York City cold inside five minutes. Tre Pemberton’s clever cross picked out in-form striker Kairo Mitchell, who hooked home from close range over the exposed Harrison Male.
City hit back on 14 minutes from the spot. Pearce, fresh from signing a new contract, coolly sent Luke McNicholas the wrong way for his seventh goal of the fledgling season after the flat-footed Tom Knowles was penalised for nudging Joe Felix in the box.
Rovers’ marksman Mitchell almost doubled his tally moments later, clipping narrowly over after Laurent Mendy’s dazzling footwork carved an opening.
The game quickly became the end-to-end affair boss Savage has suggested is in his side’s DNA. Resembling a basketball contest it was leggy West Brom loanee Harry Whitwell who surged through midfield to feed Nick Haughton, whose low effort forced Male into a sharp stop with his outstretched boot.
At the other end, McNicholas reacted well to tip over a dipping, deflected strike from Tyrese Sinclair, before Male produced his own acrobatics of his own to claw away Haughton’s curling attempt.
York looked certain to edge ahead when Sinclair unleashed a thunderous effort, only for towering defender Ryan Inniss to race back and head clear off the line six minutes before the interval after City had carved Rovers open.
Savage shuffled his pack at the break – ushering on Neil Kengni and Sheffield United loanee Jili Buyabu. The impact of Buyabu was instantaneous – dazzling footwork saw him find Pemberton, who smacked his shot onto the bar.
Mitchell was a whisker from bagging his second with 20 minutes left on the clock – heading wide from the magic boots of Buyabu.
GAFFER TAPES – listen to York City manager Stuart Maynard’s unabridged match synopsis
York boss Stuart Maynard was delighted to follow their 5-0 victory over Carlisle with a hard-fought point in Gloucestershire, he said: “I look at our return over the two games with Carlisle and Forest Green, two teams that I do firmly believe will be right in the mix come the end of the season. And to play them in such close succession with the intensity of the game, for us to play on Wednesday and then travel down here and then put on a performance like that, I have to give huge credit to our group. The intensity they played with again today and the bravery to keep getting on the ball and wanting to pass it was incredible.”
Maynard felt his side recovered well after falling to Mitchell’s fifth-minute opener: “ When you go behind so early as well, to work your way back into the game, that shows good character.
“I think we’ve got bundles and bundles of character in this group. And you see it in the second-half, we showed the character as well.”
Maynard insisted there were no qualms about the penalty: “It was a clear foul, wasn’t it? And Pearce, he’s just got ice in his veins, hasn’t he? I thought Pearce was excellent tonight. His work ethic for the team out of possession. Sometimes he’s not going to be in games like this because they tried to go a little bit man-for-man.”
Maynard expects Savage’s side to be in the mix at the end of the season: “They’re a good team. I said it in the build-up to the game. They’re at the top of the league for a reason and I think they’ll be right there come the end of the season.”
STAT ATTACK
Forest Green Rovers 1 (Mitchell 5) York City 1 (Pearce 14 (pen)
Team line-ups
Forest Green: ( 4-3-3-3) McNicholas 7; Pemberton 7, Inniss 7, Moore-Taylor 7, Knowles 6 ( Kengni 46, 8 ); Mendy 7, Whitwell 7 (Bunker 81), Moore 6 (Balagizi 65, 7 ); Haughton 6 (Buyabu 46, 8 ), McAllister 6; Mitchell 7
Subs not used: Pagel, Clakre, Marquez.
York City: ( 3-4-2-1) Male 7; Kitching 7, Fagan-Walcott 7, Palmer 7; Hunt 7, Boateng 9 (Batty 89), Sinclair 7 (Brookes 76, ), Felix 8 (Fallowfield 89) , Grey 7 (Banks 69, ), Newby 7 (Olley 69, ); Pearce 8
Subs not used: Sykes- Kennworthy, Stones
Half time: Forest Green 1-1 York City
Referee: Martin Woods
Star man: Laurent Mendy
Attendance: 2,215.
Rating: 4 /5
Match statistics
Shots on target: 4 / 7
Shots off target: 6 / 2
Corners: 5 / 4
Offside: 1 / 0
Fouls: 8 / 10
Yellow cards: 1/ 1
Red cards: 0/0
