PLUCKY Slimbridge pushed a very strong Forest Green side all the way in an entertaining friendly at Wisloe Road on Tuesday night.
Rovers boss Dave Hockaday fielded a team that could well resemble his starting lineup for the opening Blue Square Premier clash against Cambridge United on Saturday, August 11, but the result was in doubt until the 86th minute when Magno Vieira secured the win after Jamie Turley finally broke the home side’s resistance on 53 minutes.
That Slimbridge kept Rovers at bay for so long was largely thanks to goalkeeper Dave Evans, who made a string of fine saves in the first half, including one from a 15th minute penalty by Yan Klukowski, adding to his miss against Shortwood from the spot earlier in the pre-season campaign.
Evans had already done well to keep out long range efforts from Reece Styche and Kieron Forbes before Jamie Inch tripped the former as he cut into the box from the left.

The Swans number one made up his mind early to dive to the left and it allowed him to make an impressive stop from Klukowski’s well-struck effort.
Slimbridge weren’t intimidated by the star names in the opposition’s team sheet, though, and Daniel Holloway’s curling free kick could have sneaked into the corner, only for the unsighted Sam Russell to tip the ball around the post.
Evans denied Klukowski again when he stood up well to make a block after Styche had sent the attacking midfielder clear and five minutes later Omar Koroma returned a throw-in to Jared Hodgkiss with a slick back heel, but the captain’s dangerous cross into the six-yard box was volleyed high and wide by Vieira.
Slimbridge assistant manager Fred Ward, who had a fine game in midfield, posed problems for the Rovers defence with his free kicks, one of which Russell did well to tip over the bar when it came off his own man, Turley.
Just before the break, Holloway got around the back post from Ward’s delivery to force a good reaction stop from Russell, but could not hit the target with his follow-up effort as he was caught off balance.
There was more energy about Forest Green after the break and Styche delivered a warning to Slimbridge when he glanced a header wide from Koroma’s corner.
Five minutes later an almost identical delivery was met by a strong header from Turley at the near post to break the deadlock.
The game fizzled out somewhat as Rovers started to control the game more to wear down an increasingly tired looking Slimbridge side.
Vieira wrapped the game up with four minutes left when he finished Ben Wright’s low cross into the six-yard box.
James Norwood tried the spectacular when he chipped the ball up and volleyed over from 20 yards, before Slimbridge were presented with a great opportunity to get on the scoresheet as Rovers failed to clear their lines in the box, but Holloway hit the ball straight into the ground and Russell gathered comfortably.
Slimbridge: Evans, Anson, Wellon, Inch, Speers, Ward, Turner, Harding, Fower, Higgs, Holloway.

Subs used: Martin, Nash, O’Connor.
Forest Green: Russell, Hodgkiss, Turley, Oshodi, Green, Forbes, Bangura, Klukowski, Vieira, Koroma, Styche.

Subs used: Marsh, Wright, Rowe, Norwood.
Att: 292.
Ref: Anthony Coggins.
Star men: Dave Evans (Slimbridge), Omar Koroma (Forest Green).
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