National League

Forest Green 2

Macclesfield 1

ANOTHER Forest Green late show saw Charlie Clough snatch a 93rd-minute victory to make it six wins on the spin for Ady Pennock’s table-toppers.

Rovers looked to have settled for a point when captain for the day James Jennings netted parity - cancelling out Jack Sampson’s 69th-minute opener, but for a second time in a week a stoppage-time goal went in Rovers' favour.

Earlier, Pennock started with the team, which finished the last-gasp victory over Southport with super-sub Kurtis Guthrie, who bagged the stoppage time winner on Merseyside, earning a starting place ahead of Jon Parkin.

Meanwhile, Brett Williams was handed a place ahead of Darren Carter and new signing Ben Jefford took his place on the bench in place of expectant father David Pipe, who was granted leave.

Macclesfield boasted a familiar face in former Forest Green legend Reece Styche, who joined the Silkmen overnight from Kidderminster Harriers and one-time loanee George Pilkington.

Rovers started on the front-foot -Elliott Frear winning a second-minute corner - and from his set-play – Kieffer Moore’s flicked header was nodded over by the lurking Williams.

The Silkmen, with play-off aspirations, started to settle and in a free-flowing move the experienced Chris Holroyd stood-up a cross for Jack Simpson to glance over.

Rovers had gone into their shell somewhat and survived a let-off when Danny Whitehead’s strike bounced off the chest of goalkeeper Steve Arnold.

However, they flickered back to life with Frear and Guthrie upping the ante.

Set-plays have been Rovers strong point throughout this title-chasing season and the impressive Jennings found a pocket of space inside the box to plant a header wide from a Frear corner.

On the cusp of the interval Guthrie clipped another header beyond the top corner from a Marsh-Brown corner – Rovers’ fifth of a scoreless first half.

Yet another corner greeted Rovers at the start of the second half, but this time Moore fizzed wide from a Frear knock-back following Marsh-Brown’s deep corner. Seconds later Marsh-Brown sliced wide after a deep cross from Frear.

Former New Lawn favourite Styche came on in the 55th minute and he made an earlier impression as he exposed Moore on the byeline to fire a low cross into the box.

The Silkmen looked the more  probable side to break the deadlock.

Rovers pressed self-destruct on 69 minutes. Moore’s weak back-pass allowed Sampson to nip in and beat the exposed Arnold.

Three minutes later and Carter was brought on to replace Williams as Pennock looked to liven his side up.

It worked as Jennings poked home his fifth goal of the season from a 77th- minute Frear free-kick – Rovers’ first shot on target.

Arnold fell on a Danny Whitaker strike with six minutes to go.

The unmarked Clough volleyed wide from a Marcus Kelly free-kick.

Yet again Rovers snatched it in stoppage time. Sam Wedgbury’s 93rd-minute long ball caused mayhem for Clough to get the vital last touch.

Forest Green: S Arnold, D Bennett, J Jennings, C Clough, K Moore, S Wedgbury, R Sinclair, K Marsh-Brown (M Kelly, 75), B Williams (D Carter, 72), K Guthrie( J Parkin, 90), E Frear.

Subs not used: B Jefford, C Cooper.

Attendance: 1,617  (86 away).

Star Man: James Jennings. Captain for the day and chipped in with his fifth goal of the season.

Next up: Wrexham (A) Saturday, February 6