By Richard Joyce

Vanarama Conference

Dartford 1

Forest Green 2

BOSS Ady Pennock gave his team a half-time kick-up the backside and it worked as Forest Green stomped to their second away win of the season at Dartford.

Marcus Kelly’s sumptuous second half stunner and a fortuitous Lee Hughes strike handed Rovers the points in Kent, despite a far from convincing first half.

“I thought the first half was the worst we’ve been and not acceptable at all and I certainly told them that at half-time,” said Pennock.

“If it wasn’t for Sam Russell, the post and the crossbar we would have been 3-0 down. We’ve played much better and lost.

“The lads did respond in the second half but I wish we could find some consistency in our performances over 95 minutes.”

After seeing his side earn a draw in an entertaining clash at Eastleigh on Tuesday, Pennock named an unchanged side, but welcomed back Hughes from suspension and handed the former Premier League striker a place on the bench.

Dartford came out of the blocks fast and Russell was called upon in the opening minutes to make two important blocks.

A melee in the box saw Russell stop an initial effort, and as the ball fell to Luke Daley, who had a clear sight of goal, he couldn’t find a way past Russell.

Clovis Kamdjo, once again starting as part of the Rovers front two, then powered an effort just past the post after James Norwood had fed the Cameroonian.

Then came the first of two Dartford opportunities that saw the woodwork prevent them from going ahead.

Harry Crawford found space well on the edge of the box and he unleashed a right- footed strike, which slammed against the post.

Just two minutes later exactly the post saved Rovers again – this time denying e Ryan Hayes.

Jon Parkin’s clever attempt, which dropped just over, concluded a first half that Rovers could count themselves lucky that they were not behind.

Rovers took full control in the second half- Rob Sinclair slammed over after good interplay.

A moment of brilliance from Kelly nosed Rovers ahead. The midfielder was found by a long range pass from Luke Oliver and he smashed a fine finish past former Wales international Jason Brown.

Rovers gained control, but Russell was still required to make a good stop to deny Crawford from finding parity.

Substitute Hughes then ensured the three points would be coming back to Gloucestershire when he got on the end of Sam Wedgbury’s goal bound strike.

The experienced front man diverted Wedgbury’s effort past the wrong- footed Brown and his side’s second half dominance looked to have all but secured maximum points.

Max Cornhill bagged a 90th minute consolation strike for the Kent side.

Forest Green: Russell; Pipe, Oliver, Coles, Stokes; Sinclair (Hughes 60), Wedgbury; Norwood, Kamdjo, Kelly; Parkin.

Subs not used: Bennett, Oshodi, Frear, Guthrie.

Star Man: Luke Oliver.

Next up: Forest Green v Barnet, Saturday, September 27, 3pm.