FOREST GREEN 2

MAIDSTONE 2

WITH legendary England and Leeds United defender Terry Cooper watching from the stands, his managerial son Mark saw Forest Green squander a two-goal lead in their final home game of the regular season.

"El Tel “ swapped the warm climes of Spain for the green rolling hills of the Cotswolds and the former Bristol City and Birmingham City boss would have been pleased with Rovers’ front-foot start.

Goals from the recalled Keanu Marsh-Brown and a Kevin Loko own-goal gave Rovers a seemingly unassailable two-goal cushion, but  Maidstone showed their resilience to grab a point through second-half strikes from teenager Harry Phipps and a Joe Piggot point-save with 10 minutes to go.

Earlier, in the final home game of the regular season boss Cooper shuffled his pack - making changes to the team that lost at bottom of the table Southport on Easter Monday.

Drissa Traore replaced Sam Wedgbury in midfield.

Meanwhile, Cooper was forced to revert to a back four - Curtis Tilt forced to sit out after suffering concussion at Southport. Elsewhere, the enigmatic Marsh-Brown was handed a start.

Rovers are looking for momentum ahead of the play-offs and Christian Doidge was a whisker away from giving his side a first minute lead – planting his header over from a Dale Bennett cross.

Cooper’s side were red-hot – on-loan Wigan striker Kaiyne Woolery fizzing wide against his old club and the Charlie Cooper arrowing over from 25 yards - all this in the opening seven minutes.

Rovers were trying to find their range – giant defender Manny Monthe galloping forward and planting a post-shot high and wide.

Constant pressure told as Rovers took an 11th-minute lead.

A period of passing was finished with a touch of class from Marsh-Brown, who picked his spot from the edge of the box to claim his eleventh goal of the season.

Maidstone were pinned in but Pigott tried to break the shackles – scuffing wide from a good position.

Rovers remained potent. Slip-shod passing from Alex Fisher allowed Rovers to breeze forward – Liam Noble’s stinger parried by Lee Worgan with Woolery firing the free ball over. Seconds later Worgan did well to fall on a Woolery skidder. Worgan was certainly busy- flying through the air to paw away a Doidge turn and spanking strike from a Woolery assist.

Rovers continued to hold sway. Doidge drilled beyond the goal frame after Noble rolled the ball into his feet.

Maidstone rallied on the cusp of the interval – former Forest Green striker Yemi Odubade curling over from a free-kick and then Fisher hitting a skidder off target.

Only a last-ditch Loko recovery tackle prevented Doidge bagging a stoppage-time second for Rovers.

Loko could count himself unlucky 10 minutes after the resumption as Bennett's driven cross deflected off him to wrong-foot Worgan after Monthe had instigated the move with a sweeping pass.

With the game seemingly over – Maidstone sparked into life. Sam Russell pushed a Seth Nana-Twumasi cross into the inviting path of Phipps for a 61st-minute goal.

Cooper made swift changes just beyond the hour – the excellent Traore making way for Wedgbury and Marsh-Brown taking a rest for Omar Bugiel.

Boosted by the goal, Maidstone were gaining a foothold. Piggott was a smidge from beating Russell from the edge of the box, and at the other end Noble clipped the bar after a Woolery shot was charged down.

With the clock ticking it was Maidstone who snatched parity with 10 minutes to go. Russell spilled a Bobby-Joe Taylor fizzer for Piggot to pounce.

Deep into stoppage-time Worgan showed quick feet to block at the feet of Woolery and as the ball broke Nana- Twumasi blocked on the line.

FGR 2 MAIDSTONE UNITED 2

Marsh-Brown 11, Lokko 55 (own goal)

Phipps 61, Pigott 81

FGR V MAIDSTONE

SHOTS ON TARGET 10  / 6

SHOTS OFF TARGET 12 / 6

CORNERS 4 / 2

FOULS CONCEDED 8 /9

OFFSIDES  4/ 2

YELLOW CARDS 0 / 1

0 RED CARDS 0

STAR MAN: Drissa Traore (Forest Green)

ATT: 2,030

ENTERTAINMENT: 3 /5

REFEREE: Mr Neil Hair: 7/ 10

FOREST GREEN: (4-4-1-1) Russell 5; Bennett 7, Ellis 7, Monthe 7, Wishart 6 ; Traore  8 (Wedgbury 63, 6), Marsh-Brown 6 (Bugiel 66, 6), Cooper 7, Woolery 8; Noble 6; Doidge 6 (Mullings 79, 6).

Subs not used: Robert, Kelly.

MAIDSTONE UNITED: (4-3-3) Worgan 7; Nana-Twumasi 7, Lokko 6, Okuonghae 6, Mills7; Paxman 6 ( Richards 70, 6), Phipps 8 ( Acheampong 90), Prestedge 8; Pigott 8, Odubade 6, Flisher 5 (Taylor 62, 6).

Subs not used: Coyle, Loza.