Half-time: Forest Green 1 Torquay 1

 

Forest Green boss Ady Pennock was forced to change his defence for the first time this season with Chris Stokes sidelined after picking up a knock in the weekend defeat against league leaders Barnet.

Marcus Kelly dropped to left-back with Elliott Frear taking his place on the wing. Striker Jon Parkin was restored to the starting line-up in place of Lee Hughes.

Rovers survived an early let-off when the flat-footed Luke Oliver pulled back the speedy Ryan Bowman and from the resulting free-kick, Courtney Cameron fizzed over. The night was soon over for Oliver as he pulled up clutching his hamstring and was replaced on seven minutes by Eddie Oshodi.

A defensive error almost gifted Torquay a fortuitous opener. Kelly's sliced clearance allowed Duane Ofori-Acheampong to evade Same Russell, but the covering David Pipe cleared the ball from the danger zone.

Rovers responded. Frear galloped down the left, but Parkin failed to get enough purchase on his header. Torquay's riposte was immediate-Courtney Richards opening up Rovers for Ofori-Acheampong to put the Gulls 1-0 up on 22 minutes.

Rovers were struggling to get a foothold, but James Norwood flashed wide after the eager Rob Sinclair carved open a chance.

At the other end, a sliding Pipe tackle snuffed out the dangerous Bowman, who escaped the attention of Oshodi.

A goalmouth frenzy resulted in Rovers netting parity on 34 minutes. Kelly’s free-kick was headed back across the goal by Norwood for Oshodi to see his initial shot blocked on the line, but his second effort was deflected in by Parkin and beyond Torquay Martin Rice.

Deep into first half stoppage time, Sinclair teed-up Norwood, who drilled his shot wide from just inside the box as Rovers finished the half on a high.

Forest Green: S Russell, D Pipe, M Kelly, L Oliver, D Coles, S Wedgbury, R Sinclair, E Frear, J Parkin, C Jolley, J Norwood.

Subs: D Bennett, L Hughes, E Oshodi, K Guthrie, L Rodgers.