LINCOLN CITY 0

FOREST GREEN 1

FOREST GREEN narrowed the gap on leaders Cheltenham Town to two points with a dramatic smash-and-grab victory at Lincoln City.

The enigmatic Keanu Marsh-Brown hit a sumptuous 76th minute winner for his eighth goal of the season and Rovers’ first win on the road since October.

Two minutes earlier it looked bleak for Rovers as they lost influential defender Aarran Racine to a contentious 74th minute straight red.

Earlier, Marsh-Brown returned to the starting line-up after his cameo performance on New Year’s Day.

Meanwhile, Brett Williams made an overnight return to Rovers from Stevenage with Aaron O’Connor moving in the opposite direction.

Rovers hit the ground running – Marsh-Brown’s dash from the kick-off, inducing a corner inside 30 seconds.

Marsh – Brown was at it soon after – arrowing over a cross for Jon Parkin, who glanced wide.

Everything was going through Marsh-Brown. His lofted ball forward found the unmarked Racine, who directed his header over.

Lincoln were offering little, but the burly Matt Rhead fizzed into the side-netting.

Read’s moment seemed to lift a City side, who were short of confidence following an eight-game wineless run, which had blunted their play-off aspirations.

The first save in anger went to Forest Green’s Steve Arnold, who threw up a long lever to tip-over a Craig Stanley fizzer on 13 minutes.

The Imps were on top, but Callum Howe should have done better with a close-range header.

Rovers were huffing and puffing and needed to find a moment of class. They nearly produced it on 28 minutes - Elliott Frear thumping the crossbar from a Marsh-Brown assist.

A swift break saw Darren Carter release Marsh-Brown, but goalkeeper Paul Farman dashed smartly from his line to pinch the ball off his boot.

It was nip-and-tuck as Terry Hawkbridge bent a shot just wide of Arnold’s post and Carter shot into Farman.

Left-back James Jennings was feeling the wrath of the vociferous Sincil Bank crowd and went into the book on 40 minutes for tugging back the tricky Jack Muldoon.

Rovers got off to a nervy second half start.

Racine saw yellow for holding onto Rhead and Jennings was forced to nod off the line from Luke Waterfall after a Hawkridge free-kick - with the free- ball seeing Alan Power fizz wide.

A moment of brilliance was required for a sluggish looking Rovers - and Marsh-Brown watched his curler fingered away by the alert Farman.

Muldoon picked up a yellow for a late lunge on the incensed Arnold as tempers started to fray.

With 21 minutes to go, Pennock replaced Carter with Kurtis Guthrie and opted for a traditional 4-4-2 formation.

Rovers were reduced to ten men on 74 minutes with Racine red-carded for a meaty challenge on Patrick Brough.

Two minutes later Marsh-Brown found space in the box from a Jon Parkin prod and lobbed the ball over Farman for a stunning 76th minute goal.

The Imps responded, but Waterfall could only plant his header into Arnold.

Guthrie, Sam Wedgbury and Lee Beevers were handed late bookings as the game reached boiling point.

Only a superb 85th minute Arnold block from the unmarked Waterfall all but secured a dramatic win for Rovers.

However, with five minutes of stoppage time to go, Lincoln went for broke.

Keeper Farman was up for a corner, but Rovers turned defence into attack and Marsh-Brown tried his luck from the touchline with an unguarded net in front of him.

Forest Green (4-3-3): S Arnold, D Bennett, J Jennings, A Racine, C Clough, S Wedgbury, R Sinclair, D Carter ( K Guthrie 69), K Marsh-Brown, J Parkin ( B Williams 86), E Frear (D Pipe 76).

Subs not used: J Maxted, M Kelly.

Attendance: 1,975

FGR fans: 40

Star Man: Keanu Marsh-Brown - his stunner won it for Rovers.

Next up: Forest Green v Braintree (H) Saturday, January 23, kick-off 3pm.