WANDERERS (3-4-1-2)

 

JAMES TRAFFORD…7.5.

Nothing especially flashy – but he dealt with anything in the box, his handling was secure, and his, ahem, game management skills were spot on as well.

GETHIN JONES…7.5.

Created the goal and looked sharp going forward in the opening 30 minutes on his return. After the red card, he contributed to a mighty defensive effort.

RICARDO ALMEIDA SANTOS…7.5.

Back in the side and would have hoped for an easier night in his first league start since November. His aerial presence and strength at the back was hugely important.

EOIN TOAL…7.5.

Shifted position in the back three and still looked comfortable. Passed his toughest defensive test so far with flying colours.

CONOR BRADLEY…7.5.

Some had questioned whether the young defender had ran out of steam in recent weeks, yet this all-action performance gave a very firm answer.

KYLE DEMPSEY…8.5.

If anyone covered more distance than Bradley, it was Dempsey. He thundered into challenges to set the tone from early on and got through so much work out of possession.

AARON MORLEY…7.5.

Has shown so much progress on the defensive side of his game recently, and this was probably the grittiest performance yet.

RANDELL WILLIAMS…6.

Finding full fitness on the job is not an easy task – and while Williams has not exactly caught fire in the last couple of games, he is putting the effort in.

SHOLA SHORETIRE...7.5.

Had 11 men stayed on the field, this could have been a seriously electric debut. Worked hard for the team and gave very positive signs for the future.

(GOOD) DION CHARLES…6.5.

Produced a wonderful finish but had his evening curtailed in the most bizarre manner possible. Surely the FA will overturn his ban?

(BAD) DION CHARLES…4.

Put Wanderers in jeopardy with a daft reaction to some tight marking in the penalty box. Will face a three-game ban now, which helps nobody.

Subs: Johnston 6.5, 67 (for R Williams) – Given some rest but then thrown in to add some mettle.

Lee 72 (for Shoretire), MJ Williams 73 (for Kachunga), Aimson 90+2 (for Bradley).

Not used: John, Sadlier, Sheehan.

Forest Green (3-5-2): Doohan; Godwin-Malife, Cooper, Cargill; O’Keefe, Stevenson, Peart-Harris, Hendry, Robson; March, Bakayoko.

Subs: Stevens 58 (for Peart-Harris), McAllister 66 (for March), Casey 78 (for Cooper), Garrick 78 (for Godwin-Malife).

Not used: Thomas, Bernard, McGeouch.

Referee: Tom Neild 4/10 – Guided (wrongly) by his linesman on the red card but that didn’t excuse a very, very patchy performance thereafter. Whether the mistake shook his confidence, or the crowd reaction got the better of him, it was a night to forget.

Attendance: 16,329