TRANMERE ROVERS 0

FOREST GREEN ROVERS 1

FOREST GREEN moved another step closer to a guaranteed spot in the play-offs as sub Kaiyne Woolery stepped off the bench to snatch an 85th-minute winner at Tranmere.

Forest Green delivered the win that boss Mark Cooper demanded - and with for games of the regular season to go, his battling side look well set for a third-placed finish, with rivals Tranmere now seemingly left to contemplate the play-offs, with the title destined for Lincoln.

Forest Green were indebted to a goalkeeping masterclass from Sam Russell in a game which second-placed Tranmere sparkled, but were left shell-shocked at the death.

Earlier, boss Cooper made two changes to the team that dug out a 1-0 victory at Guiseley on Saturday.

Omar Bugiel and Drissa Traore dropped to the bench with Marcus Kelly and Sam Wedgbury coming in to the starting line-up to bolster the midfield, but Darren Carter missed the cut altogether. Meanwhile, Rob Sinclair, Liam Noble, Keanu Marsh-Brown and Ethan Pinnock remain on the treatment table.

Fresh from a 9-0 win over Solihull, Tranmere started with their tails wagging.

Former Forest Green darling James Norwood was on the front-foot and only a smashing Curtis Tilt block frustrated the partisan home crowd.

Maverick Norwood, who locked himself out of his own flat on the Wirral, picked open Forest Green’s defence with a trademark lung-busting run, but his former housemate Sam Russell did brilliantly to block a Connor Jennings strike as the net rippled in anticipation.

The influential Jay Harris hobbled off soon after following a clash with Forest Green’s Shamir Mullings.

Tranmere continued to threaten – Adam Buxton’ sumptuous 25-yard free-kick kissing the bar and then Russell impressively blocking Jennings' low header from Liam Ridehalgh's ball into the box.

Forest Green remained resolute in a half that saw them fail to strike a shot in anger.

Forest Green got angry after the break and Tranmere keeper Scott Davies make his first save of the evening as he smartly denied a Kelly curler from outside the box.

Tranmere responded – Norwood and Jennings fluffing their lines.

Tranmere were trying to break the stalemate, but found Russell in irrepressible mood – putting up a hand to frustrate Buxton's right footed free-kick that looked destined to hit the back of the net with 21 minutes left on the clock.

For all Tranmere’s attacking intent it was Forest Green, who started to grow into the game. Sub Woolery carved and opening for fellow sub Bugiel, but Davies was equal to his point-blank range stab.

However, Forest Green snatched a victory when Woolery kept his cool to fizz beyond Davies with five minutes to go.

Forest Green: (3-5-2) Russell; Tilt, Monthe, Ellis; Bennett, Cooper, Wedgbury, Kelly (Bugiel, 74), Wishart; Doidge, Mullings (Woolery, 59).

Subs not used: Robert, Traroe, Lefebvre.

Attendance: 6,095.

FGR fans: 115.

Star Man: Sam Russell.