Owers finds time to rebuke Madjo after late show (From Gazette Series)

Owers finds time to rebuke Madjo after late show

GUY MADJO, Forest Green Rovers' on-loan striker, earned the wrath of manager Gary Owers despite scoring the equaliser that secured his side a point against Hereford United.

Madjo did not arrive at The Lawn until 3.25pm - 25 minutes after the game had kicked off.

The on-loan Bristol City striker had been ear-marked for a starting position but he was delayed at Heathrow Airport and was lucky to be named on the bench.

Owers said: "If you're a professional footballer then you should have the responsibility to get to the ground in time. Guy knows that and he will be dealt with.

"It is just as well that he scored today - we might have to lock him in the dressing room until the New Year's Eve game."

When Madjo finally did enter the fray he found his side 1-0 up.

Forest Green made an excellent start and took a 34th minute lead.

Julian Alsop's astute header down allowed Bruno Teixeira to tee up Alex Meechan and the midfielder cracked a fine shot past Hereford goalkeeper Craig Mawson.

It could well have been 2-0 but Ryan Harding was denied by Mawson and neither Alsop or Teixeira could pounce on the loose ball to finish the chance off.

However, two minutes after Madjo's 56th minute entrance, United got back on level terms.

A good period of pressure brought an equaliser when Tamika Mkandawire outjumped Rovers goalkeeper Ryan Clarke to score.

Clarke made partial amends with a fine save from Guy Ipoua but 11 minutes from time the goalkeeper was caught off his line by a brilliant Alex Jeannin strike.

However, just a minute later, Madjo took an Alsop nod down in his stride and he smashed a wonderful drive past Mawson to make it 2-2.

Owers defended his goalkeeper from criticism on the second goal.

He said: "Ryan held his hand up for the first goal but I wouldn't point the finger at him for the second.

"From where I was sitting it looked like a pretty good goal."