National League

Southport 0

Forest Green 1

A DRAMATIC last-gasp strike from super-sub Kurtis Guthrie saw Forest Green  leapfrog Cheltenham Town at the top of the National League.

Rovers made it five consecutive wins and another 1-0 victory to boot as Guthrie notched his 10th goal of the season.

Having played one more game than their Gloucestershire rivals, Rovers sit at the top of the tree by a point.

An ecstatic Forest Green boss Ady Pennock celebrated in Jurgen Klopp style and found time to shakeshook the hands of the hardy 32 travelling fans.

Earlier, on a night of Merseyside wind and rain, boss Ady Pennock opted to name an unchanged side after the 1-0 win over Braintree Town on Saturday.

Southport started brightly as Rovers struggled to find their feet on a heavy surface.

However, in-form striker Jon Parkin had an early shout for a penalty after a coming together with Southport's Foster.

Rovers suffered an early blow when energetic midfielder Sam Wedgbury incurred a yellow card.

Rovers' clearest chance of tepid first half saw Kieffer Moore nod over from a 35th minute Elliott Frear's corner following a mesmerising Keanu Marsh-Brown run.

Southport rallied on the cusp of the first half with a flurry of corners, but Rovers remained resolute.

Rovers hit the ground running with a positive opening to the second period.

Parkin saw a 25 yard strike gathered by goalkeeper Crowcombe and then watched the Southport man superbly claw Parkin's hit as Rovers turned up the heat.

At the other end, Steve Arnold did well to thwart Rutherford.

It was nip-and-tuck, but Rovers remained solid with Charlie Clough on his defensive mettle.

Rovers were looking to break the deadlock. The fleet-footed Frear broke forward, but his fine approach play wasn't matched by Darren Carter, who volleyed wide.

Carter made way for Brett Williams as Pennock switched to a 4-4-2 formation.

Williams's impact was immediate - linking with the willing James Jennings for Marsh-Brown to fluff his lines with just Crowcombe to beat.

It looked like Rovers were to be denied, but  as the game entered stoppage time, Jennings fizzed a shot from 25 yards that Crocombe parried, but it fell to Guthrie to smash the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.

Forest Green: S Arnold, D Bennett, J Jennings, C Clough, K Moore, S Wedgbury, R Sinclair (D Pipe,90), D Carter (B Williams, 78), K Marsh-Brown, J Parkin (K Guthrie,83) E Frear.

Subs not used:  M Kelly, C Cooper.

Attendance: 707

Away fans: 32

Star Man: James Jennings: Solid performance and his thunderbolt created the chance for Kurtis Guthrie to pinch a last-gasp win.

Next up: Forest Green v Macclesfield (H) Saturday, January 30 (3pm).