Forest Green 3 Woking 2

Last updated : 04 January 2003 By Footy Mad

Both sides struggled to get into the game with Forest Green's only chance in the first half hour coming in the second minute as Kayode Odejayi headed wide.

Woking began to pick up their game and were unfortunate not to take the lead in the 18th minute when Chris Sharpling got past his marker and crossed for Raphael Nade, but his header bounced off the crossbar before being cleared.

As well as Forest Green the visitors are also known for leaking goals so it came as no surprise when Gary Owers' free-kick nine minutes from the end of the half first half found Jon Richardson, who sent a looping header into the left-hand corner of the net.

Almost right on half time Rovers extended their lead when Matthew Russell pumped the ball upfield for Odejayi to flick on and Steve Cowe's cross found Neil Grayson to head home from close range.

Into the second half Woking looked to get back into the game but almost shot themselves in the foot when another Owers free-kick was almost put into his own net by Jon Boardman, only for a defender to clear the ball off the line.

Just before the hour Woking did reduce the deficit when Nicky Banger's free-kick deflected into Warren Patmore's path and he fired the ball into the net.

Rovers restored their two-goal advantage when Odejayi and Tony Tucker collided and Cowe found Alex Sykes, who sent the ball into the roof of the net while Tucker was struggling to get back on to his goal-line.

Still Woking would not give up and they grabbed a consolation 12 minutes from time when an indirect free-kick into the Rovers penalty area found Banger unmarked at the back post and he calmly tapped the ball over the line.