Forest Green Rovers 2-0 York City (National League)
It's the biggest game of the National League season so far. York go into the match leading Forest Green at the top of the table by a point after 17 matches played, the two teams are both in excellent runs of form, last time out York beat Hartlepool 5-3, Forest Green smashed Maidenhead 4-1, I'm expecting something very exciting to happen in the small Gloucestershire village of Nailsworth today... Which might have been why I couldn't sleep properly last night, maybe the temptation to switch on Netflix in the early hours to watch some Youtuber v Mike Tyson also giving me a restless night. I'm glad in the end I didn't succumb to that rubbish, instead feeling fresh for an afternoon/evening of football.
Forest Green Rovers have always intrigued me, said to be the worlds greenest club, a sustainable outfit owned by a former new age traveller in Dale Vince. Only recently relegated from the football league after 7 years in the 92, they are still ambitious, hopeful of a return at the first time of asking and are even planning for the worlds greenest stadium, a 5,000 capacity wooden built structure with electric car and bike charging facilities and of course, vegan only food on offer, Eco Park will be situated in Eastington near junction 13 of the M5 when it all gets approved.
I actually scouted a bit for York City last season, they employed former Brighton & Hove Albion defender Adam Hinshelwood as Manager in February and only just survived the drop, but this season they have been flying high in the division and are unbeaten in twelve dating back as far as August.
It's a 2 hour drive and a 5:30pm kick off live on DAZN tonight, so I'm out the door for just gone 1pm leaving myself plenty of time in advance, across the M42 and down the M5 where I listen to Exeter v Lincoln play out a scoreless draw on the radio, coming off at junction 13 where I pass the village of Eastington as by now Stockport v Wrexham gets under way, through the quintessentially stunning Gloucestershire countryside and up the Frocester hill, my ears starting to pop as you can see the Severn Estuary in the distance down below, I'm through the village of Nympsfield and following several cars down a single track it feels through farmland before finally spotting the stadium on my right, parking up on Nortonwood and walking the remaining 900 yards up the hill.
The Venue
It feels special, from suddenly driving down narrow country roads the floodlights appear beyond cottages close by, on the edge of this quaint and quiet civil parish where nothing else seems to happen, modern like a local village sports facility but bigger, you instantly spot the ticket office windows in the large East Stand, a huge green union jack flag bearing "We are FGR".
The car park behind the goal is full of food trucks and is festival like with music playing, I collect my pass from the ticket office before walking over to see what it's all a out. A stone baked pizza stand has me ordering a vegan jackfruit pepperoni pizza wrap for £7, I walk over to the Brewdog Beer truck and now in the mood, ask to see if they do alcohol free beer. They don't, but they do green cola which I try instead, before sitting down in the marquee where I listen to some fella singing whilst playing his guitar as York and Forest Green fans interact with each other.
Sustainably fed and oiled after noticing two York fans walking around wearing paper KFC buckets for hats, I head inside to the East Stand where I walk through the turnstile, the FGR supporters club sat down on a table collar me for a couple of half time raffle tickets, before I head down the concourse and grab a tea, and a gluten free chocolate brownie, not tempted by the array of even more hot vegan food on offer, although the dirty fries did look good.
I'm left to put my own milk in my brew but there's only oat milk on offer on the side table under the stand, as I squeeze the tea bag and stick a plastic lid on my paper cup, I stand for a while and watch the scores come in from the 3pms on a small flat TV on the wall, before walking out towards my seat in the press area, across half way situated eight or nine rows high.
The stadium is modern, the stand I'm in is large all seated with the glass hospitality at the back, each end has a small roofed terrace but opposite is open to the elements where mostly the away fans are housed, the pitch perfect, the New Lawn is a bloody lovely green lawn.
I'm joined by a scout from Manchester, who moved south to Gloucester because of a woman, he's recently started as a Data Analyst but has a playing and coaching back ground in the North West Counties, I ask him 'why' he's left a football hot bed to come to a region where there's little action, but as I take in the view of the hills behind the open terrace and sit back and enjoy the build up of the old but friendly crowd, I certainly get how Gloucestershire, and a quieter pain-free life can be much more pleasant than the miserable packed pastures of Manchester and all those sky high modern towers and city dwellers it has.
The Game
There's an old boy in a lime green bobble hat taking his seat just before kick off. "Where's DAZN" he says... "You're ruining football" he shouts up towards the press box where there's a number of commentators, obviously annoyed that he's had to spend an extra couple of hours today in the pub pre game.
The match is frantic, a fast start by both, both teams have come to play, both teams are out to attack, both very good and it's everything I expected as the pace and power on offer impresses.
Forest Green are more direct, strong, physical, they have a big centre half in Ben Tozer, a big midfield playmaker in Harvey Bunker and a big striker in Joe Quigley all through the spine, but they have dynamism too, Charlie McCann is delicate, a delight in midfield, Tom Knowles has some pace out wide left whilst Kyle McAllister is like a young Pat Nevin on the right, they have a couple of long throws into the box via Tozer but York defend them well.
The Minster Men are well drilled, they have pace themselves in the full back positions, Joe Felix and Cameron John are both quick, Callum Howe and Malachi Fagen-Walcott a good central defensive combination, in midfield I really like Dan Batty who gets it, gives it, he works well with Alex Hunt, their no10 Ollie Pearce is diminutive but decent, out wide left is Ashley Nathanial-George who's elegant and calming, he certainly has technical talent, but neither side can make a breakthrough, for all the fine work each teams do, the first half is goalless, competitive, but largely incident free. The highlight being FGR boss Steve Cotterill standing above us from the top of the stand where he shouts down his orders louder than anything. I'm not sure if he has a touchline ban or not? Maybe he just likes it up there, elevated and entertaining everyone with his screeched words of instruction.
The Score
As the skies darken the rain starts to come down during the second half and Forest Green come out of the traps well, within a minute Quigley is put through but cannons his low shot off the foot of the upright, a half cleared corner is pumped back in and Bunker scores but is adjudged to be offside, Tom Knowles is causing havoc down the left, he's flying at substitute full back Jeff King after York reshaped their back-line during the first half, they struggle with the adjustments and don't look the same since swapping Joe Felix from right to left back.
The crowd are up under the drizzle and the intensity is heightened, York goalkeeper Harrison Male tries to play out from the back, his pass out is intercepted, McAllister alert to play in Bunker who smashes home the opener, no doubt about it, he's been the eye catching player of the game for me, a thick set big lad as number ten, the type who once he points his ass your way, you simply aren't getting the ball off.
Forest Green have the ball in the back of the net again as they continue to press and push, offside is called again, but they look to be the enforcers as York can't cope with their pace and movement, they don't have the tools, or the depth, as the home side bring on more quality in Teddy Jenks and Harry Cardwell.
The best the away side offer is a half attempt by Dipo Akinyemi and a soft header easily saved from Fagan-Walcott's effort, before Forest Green crown things off late on with a beauty, Charlie McCann has been playing forward threading passes all night, he finds Kyle McAllister who cuts inside and smashes home off the post and in, glory to the greens who have been super tonight.
The Stars
McCann has been turning heads this season with his goal and assists involvement, aged 22, a Manchester United Academy grad who had an unsuccessful spell at Glasgow Rangers, he looks to be the real deal and if Forest Green can keep him, they'll have every chance they can go up, if they don't, they'll have every chance of making a few quid on him. McCann is small but subtle on the ball, always progressive, a decent forward passer with intricacy and an eye for goal, he's not yet over the hill to fulfil his own potential and a move back up the leagues.
Another player I really liked the look of was Harvey Bunker a 21-year-old 6ft4in no10, he battled with menace, was really physical, but had a touch of elegance with good feet and took his goal really well, he'll be a real handful for defenders at any level, playing just off the centre forward he helped out the midfield but he can mix it as a number nine too, intelligent and unusual to see a player of his size in that position, Forest Green's direct forward playing style certainly playing to his strengths.
Out wide mentions for Kyle McCallister who is another player with pedigree whilst Tom Knowles shown pace down the left and had a really intriguing battle in the first half with Joe Felix before the York full back switched positions due to injury to Cameron John, that injury perhaps the telling factor in the game, in the end.
Whilst Felix shown real good pace in defence, York did have players who looked good going forward, Ollie Pearce has ability, Nathanial-George has technique, Dipo Akinyemi worked hard in attack, but they do look a Paul Mullin, Macaulay Langstaff or Will Grigg, short of goalscorer that will see them do a Wrexham, Notts County, or Chesterfield, not quite there yet, but considering how far they have come, they are certainly a team capable of giving it a chase.
The Verdict
Forest Green Rovers felt to me the team to beat, the team with the tools that can go straight back up, and on the night, the better team by far, the team now top of the National League table by two points with a goal difference two better, thanks to two strikes on the night and a clean sheet, they have a spine, a style, and a Manager in Steve Cotterill that is made for getting out of this division.
As for York, they'll push, they are only a striker away from being a real top side, they have the tools in place, a good young Manager themselves, good support, a ground back home that is good enough to host league football, which ironically is contrast to this place.
Nailsworth is far from a football town, it just feels like it shouldn't be hosting league football and it sadly won't when the new stadium gets underway, but I just loved the atmosphere of the New Lawn, the drive here down country roads, the quirkiness of the surrounding village and the limitations offered to become vegan for the day, it's a place as a football fan you just must try, before it's gone, but I'm sure the new place will be just as fun once built.... By then? Forest Green Rovers could be back in the football league?
The Teams
Forest Green Rovers: Jed Ward, Sean Long, Ben Tozer, Kyle McAllister (Christian Doidge 90), Charlie McCann, Tom Knowles (Teddy Jenks 73), Jordan Moore-Taylor, Harvey Bunker, Jamie Robson, Adam May, Joe Quigley (Harry Cardwell 73).
York City: Harrison Male, Callum Howe, Alex Hunt, Dipo Akinyemi (Tyrese Sinclair 79), Ollie Pearce, Ashley Nathanial-George (Ricky Aguiar 80), Dan Batty (Marvin Armstrong 70), Cameron John (Jeff King 43), Joe Felix, Malachi Fagen-Walcott, David Ajiboye.
5:30pm Kick Off. Saturday 16th November 2024, The New Lawn, Nailsworth (att 2,697).
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