National League

Forest Green 2

Altrincham 0

FOREST Green remain hot on the heels of National League leaders Cheltenham Town after a dominant display against Altrincham.

A first half brace from Jon Parkin was enough for Rovers to remain a point behind Cheltenham in a match that saw Dale Bennett red-carded just before the break and Altrincham reduced to nine in the second half.

Earlier, boss Ady Pennock was forced to shuffle his playing pack. Rob Sinclair (groin) failed a fitness test, forcing Pennock to revert to a two-man central midfield with Darren Carter dropping back alongside Sam Wedgbury.

Meanwhile, Marcus Kelly came in for James Jennings, who was serving a one-game suspension and Keanu Marsh-Brown was handed a recall to the starting line-up.

Pennock included loan signing Brett Williams, who joined the club until the start of January from Stevenage.

Rovers made a breathless start - Parkin giving his side the lead on 43 seconds with his seventh goal of the season. The burly striker showed silky skills to work his way into the box and plant a sumptuous strike past the shell-shocked Tim Deasy from a Kurtis Guthrie assist.

Seconds later a carbon-copy run almost saw the captain bag a second, but this time Deasy got a vital block.

Rovers continued to impress with Elliott Frear in menacing form.

However, Altrincham flickered into life, Simon Richman arrowing a cross into the box, with Damian Reeves a fraction away from a connection.

Alty started to gain a foothold. James Lawrie watched his skidding strike kiss the post via a Wedgbury deflection.

But Rovers made it 2-0 on 18 minutes. Marsh-Brown stepped on the gas to leave Adam Griffin in his wake and only a smart Deasy parry prevented a certain goal. However, Parkin planted a header home from the resultant Marsh-Brown corner.

It was all Rovers – Charlie Clough hitting the bar and Guthrie nodding wide.

Frear was enjoying the freedom of the New Lawn as he breezed past Griffin and floated in a cross that just missed Guthrie and Parkin.

Rovers were on the front foot. Clough connected with the goal frame for the second time in the first half as his cultured chip clipped the bar from just inside the ox.

On the cusp of the interval Rovers were handed a numerical disadvantage. Dale Bennett and Richman went in for a meaty challenge and Rovers’ right-back was handed a straight red card with Richman seeing yellow.

Rovers made a tactical change at the break - Marsh-Brown was sacrificed following Bennett’s sending-off and defender David Pipe took his place.

Rovers opened the second period as they had started the first as a miraculous goal saving clearance denied Guthrie a 48th minute third. He traded passes with strike partner Parkin and dinked the ball over Deasy, but Jordan Sinnott somehow got back to hack the ball off the line.

The outstanding Frear was at it again as he skinned Gianluca Havern on the left and drilled his shot wide of the bottom corner.

At the other end, Steve Arnold showed a strong glove to touch a Reeves strike wide.

Rovers responded. Guthrie turned Scott Leather inside out, but his smart approach failed to match his wayward strike.

An audacious wind-assisted Arnold kick almost saw Rovers grab a fortuitous third. His kick took one bounce in the box and flew just over the bar of his opposite number.

Williams entered the fray for Parkin with 14 minutes to go.

Two Altrincham red cards in the final 12 minutes ended a bad day at the office for the Cheshire outfit.

Josh O’Keefe upended Guthrie for his red and Havern was sent for an early shower for a shirt tug on Frear.

Williams had a late penalty shout near the end as he raced into the box and Kelly went close from 30 yards in stoppage time.

Forest Green: Arnold; Bennett, Clough, Racine, Kelly; Marsh-Brown (Pipe 46), Wedgbury, Carter, Frear; Parkin (B Williams 76), Guthrie (O’Connor 80).

Subs not used: Sinclair, Maxted.

Attendance: 1,292. Away: 43.

Star Man: Elliott Frear. Another fantastic display from the in-form left winger.