By Sam Yapp
Forest Green Rovers extended their league unbeaten run to eight games drawing 2-2 with Southend United in tricky conditions at Roots Hall on Saturday.
Rovers started the game the brighter of the two sides and almost went ahead on 16 minutes when Tom Knowles saw a driven effort well saved by Collin Andeng Ndi.
Harvey Bunker took aim next on 29 minutes with a strike from just outside the box which forced the Shrimpers’ goalkeeper into a smart low save.
But minutes before half time, Bunker did find the back of net with a diving header following a delightful Jamie Robson cross, seeing the 21-year-old score for the third successive match.
Pictures: Peter Barnes
The Shrimpers almost went into the break level but an outrageous save by Jed Ward saw a low Jack Bridge effort tipped onto the post.
Rovers started the second period on top again with Knowles almost doubling the lead on 56 minutes when Charlie McCann picked him out before unleashing an effort which was denied well by Andeng Ndi.
The Shrimpers equalised through Nathan Ralph on 63 minutes when he met a long ball into the area to divert past Ward.
Just 10 minutes later, Rovers regained the lead as substitute Christian Doidge punished a Andeng Ndi spilled ball after being on the pitch for just five minutes.
Rovers could’ve been out of sight three minutes later when Bunker tried his luck from distance but saw it rebound off the post.
Straight down the other end the Shrimpers got back level when Oliver Coker pounced on a loose ball in the area to hammer home from close range rounding off the scoring for the afternoon.
Rovers face FC Halifax Town at The New Lawn on Wednesday.
Forest Green: Ward (GK), Long, Tozer (Inniss 68’), Moore-Taylor ©, Robson, May, McCann, Bunker (Quigley 82’), Knowles (Jenks 68’), McAllister, Cardwell (Doidge 68’).
Unused subs: Searle (GK), Lavinier, Osadebe
Player of the Match: Harvey Bunker
Attendance: 6,725 (151 away)
