Salford City 1 Forest Green Rovers 1
Matty Stevens wrote himself into Forest Green folklore by beating Christian Doidge’s record for the most goals banked in a league campaign.
Stevens’ 21st league goal of the season earned stuttering Forest Green a point in a dogged display in Great Manchester.
Earlier, Rovers found themselves behind again when Jason Lowe’s low cross was turned in by the diving head of former Leeds United striker Matt Smith inside the opening three minutes.
In-form Salford went into the game unbeaten in their last four with Rovers looking for their first win in five games.
Rob Edwards’ side struggled to get a foothold in an anemic first-half, but they rallied after the break and netted warranted parity when Ebou Adams fizzed a crossfield ball onto the toes of Kane Wilson who arrowed a cross into the box for Stevens to stab beyond Tom King with 53 minutes on the clock.
Stoppage-time was disrupted as referee Declan Bourne pulled up with cramp,
Rovers’ tails were wagging and they came close to pinching it at the death with sub Josh March denied in the dying embers of the game as King stuck out a glove to turn his header wide.
Rovers have 12 games to go with seven matches at home, starting with the visit of Mark Hughes’ Bradford City on Saturday.
STAT ATTACK
Salford City: King; Lowe, Turnbull, Vassell, Ndaba; Shephard (Lund 84), Kelly, Watson, Hunter (McAleny 46) (Bolton 64); Thomas-Asante, Smith.
Subs not used: Torrance, Touray, Loughlan, Love.
Forest Green Rovers: McGee; Godwin-Malife, Sweeney, Bernard (Cargill 80); Wilson, Stevenson, Adams, Cadden; Aitchison (McAteer 69); Stevens (March 78), Matt.
Subs not used: Thomas, Diallo, Hendry, Young.
Star man: Ebou Adams.
Referee: Declan Bourne.
Next up: Forest Green welcome Mark Hughes’ Bradford City to the Fully Charged New Lawn on Saturday.
