FOREST GREEN ROVERS 1 WEST BROM U21S 0
KURTIS Guthrie’s second half goal was enough to give Forest Green a confidence boosting win over West Brom Under -21s.
With 11 days to the National League season opener, manager Ady Pennock isn’t giving any clues away to his starting line-up at Altrincham, but his pick for West Brom could be a strong indicator.
The match lacked any early intensity and it took 11 minutes for the match to garner any momentum. Jon Parkin touched a ball to Keanu Marsh-Brown for his cross to be cleared by defender Jack Fitzwater.
From the corner the eager Sam Delano-Yorke failed to get a clean strike on goal.
Albion responded. Tyler Roberts worked an opening, but fizzed over Jonny Maxted’s bar.
However, Rovers' Aarran Racine, sporting a head bandage, nodded over from a Marcus Kelly cross after the ball had dropped to Parkin.
The best opportunity of the half fell to Aaron O’Connor, who raced on to a lofted midfield pass from Sam Wedgbury, but dragged his shot wide of goalkeeper Jack Rose.
Back came the Baggies. Jonathan Leko cut a swathe through Rovers defence, but Tahon Campbell failed to match the smart approach play with a tame strike.
Rovers huffed and puffed. Sam-Yorke stepped on the gas on 42 minutes, but Parkin was blocked as he shaped to shoot.
On the cusp of the interval Parkin released Marsh-Brown who rolled the ball across an unpopulated box.
The predictable pre-season raft of half-time changes saw five Rovers’ changes.
Rovers started on the front-foot. Guthrie was inches away from two goals inside the opening minute of the half as he failed to get purchase on crosses from Marsh-Brown and Kelly respectivley.
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Corby Moore was gifted a chance on 52 minutes, but his clean strike lacked direction after a wayward Albion pass afforded him the chance.
Rovers were at it. Marsh-Brown shot into Rose’s gloves from an Elliott Frear pass.
Rovers introduced four more fresh faces on the hour. Louis McGory added some cut and thrust and Marsh-Brown was starting to find his feet as his curler from 25 yards brought a routine stop from Rose.
Maxted stood up well to a Samir Nabi stab as young Albion flickered into attacking life.
Andre Wright skipped down Rovers’ left-side and rattled the side-netting with Rovers caught cold.
Rovers riposte saw James Jennings triy the spectacular from 30 yards.
Marsh-Brown’s impressive work ended on 75 minutes. Two minutes later Frear fizzed a ball across the box with Guthrie appearing to getting a touch to score the only goal of the game.
Forest Green: J. Maxted; D. Bennett, D. Jones, A. Racine, M. Kelly; D. Sam-Yorke, S. Wedgbury, R. Sinclair, K. Marsh-Brown; J. Parkin, A. O'Connor.
Subs all used: P. White, A. Baldwin, C. Clough, T. Bender, J. Jennings, D. Pipe, C. Kamdjo, E. Frear, C. Moore, K. Guthrie, L. McGrory.
West Bromwich Albion: J. Rose; J. Ezewele, K. Howkins, J. Fitzwater, R. McCourt; J. Leko, J. Ward, S. Nabi, T. Campbell; T. Roberts, Z. Elbouzedi.
Subs: M. Hall, A. Wright, B. Sweeney, S. Field, D. Barbir.
Referee: R. Martin (Somerset).
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