FOREST Green boss Ady Pennock and captain David Pipe have been awarded Vanarama National League Manager and Player of the Month accolades for August.

With Forest Green stringing together seven wins from seven games, Pennock's choice as Manager of the Month was a deserved accolade.

Central to that early season success has been Rovers defensive performances with only two goals conceded and five clean-sheets.

And Pipe's form at right-back and and leadership within the team have been key.

Alongside fellow defenders Aarran Racine, Dale Bennett, James Jennings, Marcus Kelly and goalkeeper Jonny Maxted – Pipe has led FGR to clean sheets against Altrincham, Welling United, Barrow, Boreham Wood and Kidderminster – while conceding lone goals against Lincoln City and Bromley, with neither goal coming from open play. 

Pennock said: “I’m very pleased to receive the award but this is for everybody. Obviously it’s a Manager of the Month award but it’s for everyone involved – my staff especially and more importantly the players.

"I just hope we have the same month in September that we’ve had in August. We’ve just got to carry on the winning run.

"We’ve kept the nucleus of the same squad and have brought in four or five players. We’re under new illusions that there’s a long way to go yet.”

Pipe added: “It is a great achievement on a personal level and it shows that we have done well as a team for me to achieve it as well.

"As a defender as well, it is that little bit extra special because it’s hard to get the plaudits, so it proves that myself, and every other lad on that pitch, that we’ve done well to keep clean sheets.

"I must mention (the FGR defence) as well because for me to perform well the person next to me and the person next to him has to perform as well, as far as I’m concerned.”

The Manager of the Month and Player of the Month awards panel consists of representatives from the Football Conference, Media and Vanarama.

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