End of a fairy tale (From Gazette Series)

End of a fairy tale

Forest Green Rovers' seven-year love affair with the Nationwide Conference is over after a 3-1 defeat to play-off hopefuls Morecambe on Tuesday night.

The loss confirmed what had been on the cards for most of the season, with Rovers only climbing out of the relegation zone once during the whole campaign.

As it stood going into Tuesday night's match, Forest Green would have had to beat Morecambe and then defeat Canvey Island at The Lawn tomorrow by a Herculean 20-0 scoreline to stay up.

However, the final nail in the coffin probably came last week as Rovers were beaten 3-1 by high-flying Hereford United in front of The Lawn's largest ever Conference attendance of 2,142.

This result, and many more like it, has condemned Alan Lewer's side to the drop and brought a cruel end to the club's seven-year Conference reign, which was seen by many as being a fairy tale.

It should not be forgotten, though, that Rovers did not go down without a fight, as they proved during Tuesday's match.

Morecambe 3 Forest Green Rovers 1 ROVERS caused the Conference's in-form team all sorts of problems in this entertaining game, but just could not break down a decisive home side as their fate was sealed by three critical strikes.

There was nothing anyone could do about Morecambe's opener, a sublime strike from Michael Twiss on 26 minutes which saw him beat goalkeeper Dean Williams from 25 yards with a left-foot piledriver.

Rovers refused to lie down, and Matt Gadsby, Lewis Haldane and Andy Harris all wasting excellent opportunities, with home keeper Ryan Robinson in inspired form. The missed chances were to prove costly as Morecambe claimed a second on 69 minutes.

Hugh McAuley was robbed of possession in midfield by Garry Hunter, who in turn picked out the unmarked Wayne Curtis, who slid a precise left-foot shot under Williams.

Rovers than shocked their hosts with an excellent goal as Charlie Griffin played a beautiful one-two with McAuley before finishing with aplomb for his 17th goal of the season - an incredible total considering his side's predicament. Indeed, Griffin's goalscoring has been one of the few high points in Rovers' season.

In the end, despite Lewer's side pushing the Shrimps all the way, it just was not to be and it was a mistake by Paul Warhurst that gifted Morecambe their third as Garry Thompson leapt upon the veteran's attempted clearance and finished clinically past Williams.

L Meanwhile, Rovers' proposed moved to Conference North has angered fans who would prefer a move to the Conference South.

Forest Green's website has been inundated with fans expressing a desire to play in the South, rather than face arduous trips to Barrow, on the Cumbria coast, Whitby and Workington.

Supporter Simon Ives said: "I'm surprised that they are opting for the North. I know it can be a pain getting to places like Thurrock and Hornchurch on the other side of London, but it must surely be easier than travelling to Harrogate or Gainsborough."

The Lawn's top brass have stated a preference for the North and believe they would get better gates from the visiting teams in Conference North as opposed to those in Conference South. However, it is not an issue the club will be able to dictate, as ultimately it has to be sanctioned by the FA committees who regulate the movement of clubs.

Of their current squad, only Charlie Griffin, Steve Perrin, Mike Green, Darren Davies, Tom Gould and Scott Rogers are based south of the Midlands with the rest of the squad living closer to clubs in Conference North.

L Alan Lewer is set to appeal against his sending off in the match against Hereford United.