Sky Bet League Two

Barnet 1

Nicholls 45 +3

Forest Green 0

FOREST GREEN are in a relegation dogfight after Martin ‘Mad Dog’ Allen cajoled basement-boys Barnet off the foot of the table.

The Bees stung toothless Forest Green in first-half stoppage-time thanks to an Alex Nicholls strike, stretching Rovers’ winless run on the road to 12 games.

Cooper’s side drop a place to 22nd after Grimsby’s late win over Chesterfield and are now four points above the bottom two with five games to go.

Earlier, Cooper made two changes from the team beaten 2-1 at home to Colchester United on Easter Monday.

Top scorer Christian Doidge replaced Tahvon Campbell and Farrend Rawson returned to the starting line-up in place of Dan Wishart.

Chris Clements (virus) started on the bench in place of Charlie Cooper, who picked up a groin strain during a trial at Premier League Bournemouth this week.

After conceding in the opening seconds on Easter Monday, Rovers almost succumbed to another sleepy start just 40 seconds in. Rawson got underneath his header and the ball fell invitingly to Barnet striker Shaquille Coulthirst, who forced Bradley Collins into a full-stretch save.

With both sides scrapping for League Two survival, chances were at a premium in a turgid first-half.

However, Barnet tried to break the stalemate – David Tutonda spanking a shot into the gloves of Bradley Collins on the half-hour.

On the cusp of the break and in a rare passing foray – Dayle Grubb stabbed wide from an Alex Bray pass.

Barnet stung Rovers in the third minute of added time. The lively Coulthirst picked out Alex Nicholls, who picked his spot from the edge of the box.

Seven minutes after the restart Cooper introduced Reece Brown for Bray as Rovers looked for a way back into the match. Chris Clements soon followed.

Cooper showed his final throw of the dice with 17 minutes to go – Wishart replacing Hollis.

Rovers huffed and puffed, but failed to find a way through despite seven minutes of added time.

RATINGS out of 5

FOREST GREEN

B Collins ***

Bennett **

Rawson **

Hollis ***

Gunning ***

L Collins **

Bray **

Osbourne ***

Grubb **

Reid **

Doidge **

Subs: Brown ***  ( Bray 57), Clements *** (L Collins 63), Wishart ** ( Hollis 73)

Subs not used: Belford, Simpson, Laird, Campbell

Bookings: Osbourne 59, Bennett 64, Rawson 83, Clements 84

BARNET: Ross, Brindley, Nelson, Watson, Weston (Fonguck 80), Sweeney, Tutonda, Kyei, Nicholls (Clough 75), Akinde ( Payne 70), Coulthirst

Subs not used: McKenzie-Lyle, Taylor, Akpa- Akpro, Shomotun

Bookings: Akinde 49, Payne 86

Attendance: 1,764

Away fans: 225

Referee: Nicholas Kinseley

COMING UP: Forest Green travel to Cheltenham Town  in Sky Bet Two on Saturday, April 14, 3 pm.