Can Forest Green pull off a 'great escape' of their own? (From Gazette Series)

Can Forest Green pull off a 'great escape' of their own?

Carlisle 0 Forest Green Rovers 1

ALAN Lewer predicted the Conference relegation dogfight would go to the wire and his assertion is appearing spot on.

Lewer is on course to perform the impossible by steering his team to Conference survival as Forest Green Rovers pulled off an unlikely victory at Carlisle on Saturday.

The victory, Rovers' first in the league since Boxing Day, was even more incredible considering that the hosts lied in second place in the Conference table going into the match, having been relegated from the Football League last season.

Rovers travel to Morecambe on Tuesday of next week before completing the season at home to relegation rivals Canvey Island on Saturday, April 23.

"We put on a professional performance," Lewer said of his side's victory at Carlisle. "We've got to do it against Morecambe. If we can do that we can take it to the last game of the season."

Rovers' shock victory at Carlisle was even more remarkable with Paul Simpson's side on the crest of a seven-match unbeaten run and firm favourites for a play-off place.

However, Lewer's side responded magnificently and defended like lions with Paul Williams, Des Lyttle and match winner Damon Searle putting up a firm rearguard.

Searle's clincher arrived on 61 minutes as the ex-Carlisle man saw keeper Matty Glennon fumble Paul Warhurst's cross, which allowed him to strike into the unguarded net.

Earlier, Mo Harkin almost got on the end of a Matt Gadsby cross. Nonetheless, Dean Williams did well to tip a Peter Murphy kick over.

Rovers will go into the final two games with renewed optimism.