A late free kick converted by Nicky Cadden proved to be enough to salvage a point for Forest Green as they drew 2-2 against Barrow on Saturday.

Despite going ahead on 53 minutes from an Elliot Whitehouse header, Rovers found themselves trailing on 83 minutes after Luke James and Dior Angus converted for the hosts.

However, an excellent Cadden free kick on 96 minutes proved vital in Rovers claiming a point and boss Mark Cooper seemed delighted with his set piece effort.

Speaking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, he said: “It’s a great finish right at the end to get us a point.

“He’s got brilliant technique and he’s been due something like that.”

Rovers seem to be making good use of their set pieces this season and that late free kick winner will also have pleased Rovers’ backroom staff.

Cooper admitted that set piece drills have been the order of the day in training.

“We’re different this year,” he said. “Richard Dryden has done a lot of work on the attacking set pieces and we scored from another one.”

Cooper put some of the blame on his shoulders on not claiming victory but praised his players for taking a point against tough opposition.

He said: “I thought at one nil we were a bit negative and I probably got the change wrong in terms of I put a defender on.

“Fair play to the lads for getting me out of jail at the end with that equaliser.”

Despite some questionable decision making from the officials during the game, Cooper praised referee Chris Sarginson but questioned how much help he was getting from his colleagues.

“He’s a really good ref but I don’t think his accomplices helped him today,” he added. “I thought they left him to it and gave him some bad information but he’s a really good ref.”

Rovers are due to face to Southend on Tuesday but that could be in doubt after the Shrimpers postponed their game against Cambridge on Saturday due to a Covid-19 outbreak.

The Essex team also have an extensive injury list and they claim to only have 10 outfield players and two goalkeepers available.

Despite this, Cooper believes that the match should still take place.

He said: “They’ve announced that they’ve got a small outbreak of Covid but a plethora of injuries.

“We were told that when 60% of our starting 11 were out for the game against Stevenage that we had to play. So, let’s have it right – what are the rules?

“You have to play the game, that’s the rules.

“We’re looking at the EFL to make the right decision and play because we can’t afford to have games cancelled because we have that many games.”