FOREST GREEN 1

BURY 2

FOREST GREEN pressed the self-destruct button as promotion rivals Bury came from behind in a high-octane New Lawn thriller.

Nicky Maynard’s moment of sublime brilliance saw title-chasing Bury rock Rovers. With just seven minutes left on the clock the former Premier League star was on hand to show quick feet in the box to arrow beyond James Montgomery and make it four wins on the spin for the Shakers.

Earlier, Forest Green served notice of their own promotion intent by rocking second-place Bury thanks to Reece Brown’s first-half 28th minute deflected strike.

Rovers looked comfortable in the first-half, but allowed the Shakers back into the game on 68 minutes – when they failed to lay a glove on Jay O’Shea who comfortably beat Montgomery.

Earlier, Rovers were at it from the get-go.

Six minutes in, and Carl Winchester picked the pocket of the dithering Callum McFadzean, but the Bury defender retreated to block and the free ball saw Christian Doidge chip onto the roof of the net with Bury keeper Joe Murphy well beaten.

The goal Rovers had craved arrived on 28 minutes – Brown picking his spot from the edge of the box and watching his skidder deflected in.

Rovers opened the game in rude health- boasting a six-game unbeaten run.

However, before a ball was kicked in anger Cooper was acutely aware of the Shakers’ threat from a side on a three-game winning streak which has catapulted the Lancashire side up to second, five points ahead of Rovers having played two more games.

The pre-match cheers were loudest for Christian Doidge, back for his first start since the catastrophic collapse of his move to Bolton.

A smattering of Bolton fans made the trip to Gloucestershire and proudly sported the Second-place Shakers were on the rocks and only a recovering tackle from Adamn Thompson denied Doidge a second goal for Rovers.

Joe Murphy dropped on a Brown hit as Rovers bossed it.

Bury broke from the first-half shackles, Maynard inducing a booking for LIoyd James.

Rovers started the second-half full of gusto – Williams losing his footing and spurning an opportunity to make it 2-0 – and Mills heading wide from a booming Shephard cross.

Bury shuffled their pack – hooking captain Neil Danns off as Ryan Lowe looked for a way back into the game.

Rovers looked comfortable, but O’Shea ran through to beat Montgomery.

Cooper had seen enough and ushered on Shawn McCoulsky for Williams with 20 minutes left on the clock and Tahvon Campbell was introduced with 10 minutes remaining for Doidge.

Rovers flickered back into life but were undone when Maynard pounced.