FOREST Green Rovers manager Ady Pennock has praised Slimbridge after they battled out a goalless draw at Wisloe Road, saying: “If they play like that, they have a good chance of promotion.”
Slimbridge put in a great performance on Saturday against a Forest Green side which included a host of ex-Football League men like David Pipe and Aaron O’Connor, plus goalkeeper Jonny Maxted - who was making his debut in the friendly after signing a one-year deal at the New Lawn last Friday.
The Swans, who are just weeks away from starting their biggest ever season in the Southern League Division One South and West, kept last season’s Conference play-off semi-finalists at bay, even when manager Pennock swapped the entire side with 11 substitutes on the hour.
Although Slimbridge have not scored a goal in their annual friendly with the Nailsworth outfit, the 0-0 draw was their best result yet against their bigger opponents – and given them great motivation going into their league campaign, which kicks-off on Saturday week with a trip to Wantage Town.
Slimbridge spokesman Tim Blake said: “They worked their socks off and the interesting thing for me was that normally it is in the last quarter-of-an-hour where the fitness begins to tell.
“But we were there right to the end of the 90 minutes. That, coupled with the fact that Ady Pennock changed his team after an hour, when we not only matched their first side for an hour, but also did the same in the last half-hour, was an incredible achievement.
“Each year we give Forest Green a better game, and that’s a tribute to Leon (Sterling. Manager) and Freddy (Ward. Assistant manager).”
And it was not that Slimbridge were playing the containing game either. Blake added: “Their new keeper  Maxted was very good and he had to make a couple of good saves from our lads in the first half.
“So it is just what we needed to keep the team moving forward and what everyone is hoping for is that we can go into the new season with confidence and with the players believing in their own abilities, and knowing they can compete at this level - which is what we are asking them to do.”
But Blake said Slimbridge have to keep their feet on the ground, adding: “The signs are looking promising but you cannot read too much into all this stuff (friendlies).
“Going up (into the Southern League), we needed them to notch their performances up a level and the early indications are that that’s what they are doing.”
Pennock said: “We have a relationship with all the local teams and they (Slimbridge) played really well. I think they have got a good chance next season and they will be full of confidence after this.
“It’s no surprise when a team gets promotion that they can have a good season again, and maybe they can go up again.”
Pennock is also happy at the way his other new signings this season have been progressing as the countdown to the start of the new National League campaign enters its’ final week.
Forest Green played Premiership side West Brom’s Under-21 squad on Wednesday evening, and tackle League Two outfit Plymouth Argyle on Friday night at The New Lawn.
Their pre-season preparations end with a final friendly against Cirencester on Saturday afternoon.
Then it is take-off time - with Forest Green gearing up towards the opening day of the season and their clash at Altrincham.
So the pre-season has been critically important for Pennock to bed in not just Maxted, but defender Darren Jones, forwards Delano Sam-Yorke and Aaron O’Connor, and exciting right winger  Keanu Marsh-Brown.
Pennock said: “It is important that the  team gels well. We have young Kurtis Guthrie in the squad as well, so I am more than happy.”