Match ends, Forest Green Rovers 3, Cambridge United 2.
Forest GreenForest Green Rovers3CambridgeCambridge United2
Forest Green edged a five-goal game with second-placed Cambridge United in the Conference Premier.
James Norwood fired Rovers ahead, but the U's replied with a Josh Coulson header and Nathan Arnold's finish.
Rovers goalkeeper Sam Russell brought down Delano Sam-Yorke in the area, but saved Ryan Donaldson's spot-kick.
And Jared Hodgkiss nodded in a leveller before Danny Wright's six-yard tap-in won it against his former club, whose automatic promotion bid is dwindling.
Cambridge missed an opportunity to close the gap on leaders Luton, who drew with Salisbury, to 12 points ahead of their meeting on Tuesday night.
Forest Green Rovers manager Adrian Pennock told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:
"Everyone worked their socks off and you need that. We did concede a few goals during the first half and I was disappointed but we showed a lot of character.
"To win the game 3-2 is a fantastic achievement but this is only one game with three points, we have to look forward to Tuesday now.
"It was a big game for us in a big week, today was a massive test for us and we've come through it.
"In a game where you play four games we won't really train. We just have to help the lads recover and prepare for the games."
Cambridge United boss Richard Money told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:
"It's a game where we've shot ourselves in the foot, 2-1 up and we miss a penalty, we should go 3-1 up and we lose a goal right on half-time so we've come in at half-time 2-2 in a game we should be well in control of.
"You have to give them credit, they fought hard and got themselves on top of the game.
"We've got to pick ourselves up and go again. It's a game gone, another game closer to the end of the season and we haven't picked up any points so we need to make sure we pick up some points when we start again."
Line-ups
Forest Green
- 1Russell
- 16Racine
- 28Green
- 5Turley
- 2Hodgkiss
- 15Oshodi
- 24Kelly
- 23BarrySubstituted forBanguraat 74'minutes
- 9WrightBooked at 90mins
- 29HughesSubstituted forRodgersat 86'minutes
- 7NorwoodSubstituted forKlukowskiat 90+2'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Bangura
- 21White
- 26Rodgers
- 8Klukowski
- 12Asafu-Adjaye
Cambridge
- 13Norris
- 4Coulson
- 6Miller
- 3Taylor
- 14Tait
- 7Donaldson
- 24ArnoldSubstituted forBerryat 60'minutes
- 8Champion
- 17HughesSubstituted forAustinat 80'minutes
- 25Bird
- 19Sam-YorkeSubstituted forGilliesat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 16Austin
- 5Bonner
- 29Gillies
- 18Berry
- 2Roberts
- Referee:
- Lee Swabey
- Attendance:
- 1,411
Match Stats
Home TeamForest GreenAway TeamCambridge
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home0
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away5
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Forest Green Rovers 3, Cambridge United 2.
Substitution
Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Yan Klukowski replaces James Norwood.
Booking
Daniel Wright (Forest Green Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Daniel Wright (Forest Green Rovers).
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Mitch Austin (Cambridge United) wins a free kick.
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Hand ball by James Norwood (Forest Green Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Luke Rodgers replaces Lee Hughes.
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Foul by Josh Gillies (Cambridge United).
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Jared Hodgkiss (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick.
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Attempt missed. Ryan Bird (Cambridge United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Josh Gillies.
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Corner, Cambridge United.
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Foul by Daniel Wright (Forest Green Rovers).
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Mitch Austin (Cambridge United) wins a free kick.
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Offside, Forest Green Rovers. Lee Hughes tries a through ball, but Lee Hughes is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Marcus Kelly (Forest Green Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
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Foul by Greg Taylor (Cambridge United).
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James Norwood (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick.
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Attempt missed. Lee Hughes (Forest Green Rovers) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Cambridge United. Mitch Austin replaces Liam Hughes.
