Forest Green 4 Woking 2
A beaming Robbie Savage hailed his Forest Green Rovers side as they returned to winning ways in a thrilling six-goal encounter at The New Lawn.
Rovers were forced to come from behind on two occasions, sparked by a first professional goal from recent signing Gabe Kercough, before strikes from Nick Haughton, Ricardo Rees and a stunning Tom Knowles rocket sealed a memorable night in Nailsworth.
Listen to Robbie Savage’s unabridged post-match press conference.
The victory lifted Forest Green into fourth place in the National League table, capping an evening to remember for Savage and his players.
“As a collective, we were fantastic, unbelievable,” chirped Savage. “Each and every one of them were outstanding, and we had a reaction. As a management team, we needed a reaction, that’s where we made changes, and the changes work. So all you can ask of a group on the back of our worst performers of the season is a reaction. And that shows through everybody inside the stadium tonight, crowd were fantastic, difficult conditions on a cold night.
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“The best thing was the performance was incredible. The dynamic, pace, power, creativity, people who wanted the ball defended well. Collectively, all you want is your action and we were truly, truly, at times, breathtaking. I can’t speak highly for my group, our group. I’ve got the belief in them, they know that. And it was the same clear message. You know, we’re building, we’re building the foundations, the bricks are getting laid, the roof will eventually come. You know, whether it’s this year, next year, or two years. This is what we’re doing at this football club now. And we can be proud.
“And for Dale and Asif to be here, with their work commitments again, Dale’s loving it. And it was a performance for everybody tonight because I questioned myself, the players questioned themselves, but we stuck together, we went again together. Now we go to York with the belief, listen, York and Rochdale are the two best sides in the league. But we go there and if we can play like that, we’ve got a chance against anybody.”
On Christian Doidge making his 200th appearance and his influence off the pitch, Savage added: “He’s been great around the group, helpful, encouraging, even when he’s not in it, he’s there getting around the lads because, I’ve got to use his knowledge and I’ve got to use his experience, regardless if he plays or not, because his aura around the group is brilliant. The fans love him.”
Asked about set-piece success and Wayne Hatswell’s contribution, Savage said: “Hats, is a great acquisition for the football club. He’s got great experience. He was my mentor on my B licence. I’m currently on my A. So again, you know, all my staff are brilliant and we win and we lose together. They feel as much as me when we lose.
“We’ve got two from set pieces, so he’s come in and he’s been brilliant and he offered his services to me. He said, ‘Listen, I want to help, I want to help you’ because I know when I’ve done my B licence and even my mentor, we got on and his knowledge is great and I need pushing. I need people around me who’ve got to push me, who are better than me at their job. John’s a better coach than me, Hats is a better set-piece coach than me, Dan’s a better goalkeeper coaching me. You know, the physios are better than me doing physiotherapy.”
New striker Ricardo Rees made it four goals in as many games and Savage insisted his impact has been tangible: “If we’d have had Ricardo at the start of the season, we could be up there with York and Rochdale. We haven’t, but now we’ve got him. And, you know, we’ve got him on a long-term contract, enthusiastic, passionate. I knew he scored goals. He comes in and he says, ‘I’ll score tonight.’ It’s unbelievable the confidence that your man has. And not only is he a goal scorer, as they all are, great people. And that’s the culture we’re creating — good personalities, people who care, people who do it hurts when we lose. And yeah, it’s a good night though. And to be fair, we needed that.”
Earlier, Rovers bossed possession in the opening exchanges, but it was Woking who struck first on 10 minutes. Sanderson finished comfortably as Savage’s side were cut open.
Four minutes later, on 14 minutes, Rovers were level. Kircough nodded home from Jayden Clarke’s free-kick. The goal avalanche continued and the response from Woking was immediate, restoring their lead just two minutes later on 16 minutes, when Jack Turner’s corner was turned in by the unmarked Gbode.
Rocked but unbowed, Rovers began to carve out chances, with Clarke, Jili Buyabu and Laurent Mendy all going close. Kyle McAllister led the charge, probing and pushing his side forward as Woking remained resolute in defence.
From the restart, Rovers hit the ground running. Haughton fizzed an effort against the foot of the post from the edge of the box before finding his range on 52 minutes, curling a sumptuous free-kick into the net to level matters.
Just two minutes later, on 54 minutes, Rovers were ahead. Buyabu’s low ball into the box dropped kindly for Rees, who pounced to finish from close range.
With 13 minutes remaining – the energetic Knowles produced a moment of magic, unleashing a 35-yard howitzer that beat Jaaskelainen all ends up to put Rovers 4–2 ahead.
Doidge was introduced on 81 minutes to make his 200th appearance for the club. At the other end, the previously under-employed Harry Isted was finally called into action, producing a strong save to deny Harry Beautyman on 87 minutes, leaving Rovers to see the game out.
Player ratings out of 10
Forest Green: ( 4-4-1-1) Isted 7; Mingi 6 (Knowles 29, 7), Kanu 8, Kircough 9, Buyabu 8 (Morrison 87); Clarke 7 (Doidge 81), Mendy 7, Nwoko 7, McAllister 8; Haughton 8 (Bunker 81); Rees 8 (Mitchell 87).
Subs not used: Pagel, Kengni.
Woking: (5-3-2) Jaaseklainen; Drewe, Okoli, Odusina, Richards, Hinds (Tunji Akinola 67); Turner (Beautyman 81), Syla (Tim Akinola 67) , Andrews; Gbode (O’Brien 46), Sanderson (Osude 67)
Referee: Elliot Swallow
Star Man: Nick Haughton
Attendance : 1,064
Next up: Forest Green make the trip to league leaders York City on Saturday, 3pm.
