Forest Green Rovers 1 Newport 1: Jamille Matt denies County

The League Two leaders looked set for a terrific win against their fellow high-flyers at the New Lawn thanks to a penalty by Tristan Abrahams after Joss Labadie was fouled on the stroke of half-time.

However, they were denied when Jamille Matt, who left Rodney Parade in the summer after the coronavirus pandemic meant County couldn’t offer a fresh contract, netted in the 77th minute.

It made it a frustrating evening with the Exiles once again failing to show a cutting edge in front of goal, but a point at a team that will also be in the mix could well prove to be precious when all 46 games have been played.

The winter schedule, which is especially manic in this condensed season, is the true test of those that are aiming for promotion.

This was a solid start in the fixtures that lead up to the mouth-watering clash with Brighton in the new year, an FA Cup tie that Michael Flynn won’t want to talk about in December.

With Scot Bennett excellent in midfield and Brandon Cooper strong at the back, it was a good point that will turn into an excellent one if three follow against Morecambe in Newport on Saturday.

The manager made four changes to the side that beat Salford in the FA Cup with goalkeeper Nick Townsend, central defender Matty Dolan, midfielder Labadie and striker Abrahams coming into the XI.

Scott Bennett was rewarded for a strong display by retaining his place in front of the defence while the bench was loaded with attacking options.

Rovers would be looking to force the leaders into chasing the game with those subs and the hosts included two former Exiles forwards as starters in Aaron Collins and Matt.

It should have been Forest Green playing catch-up after three minutes when Ryan Haynes did superbly down the left and whipped in a cross only for Jamie Proctor to glance his header wide from the middle of goal.

With seven on the clock County had another chance with the head when Dolan climbed well to meet a Josh Sheehan corner from the right but he failed to hit the target.

Forest Green were soon pleading for a numerical advantage after a rash challenge by Labadie but referee Ben Toner, who was given an earful by both sides throughout the night, took out his yellow card rather than a red.

Rovers then pleaded for a penalty after some clumsy defending by Mickey Demetriou, who was given encouragement by Flynn (the stick rather than the carrot) after the appeals were waved away.

County went close again on 14 minutes but this time it was a terrific effort with Proctor trying some acrobatics with his back to goal in the area only to fire just over the bar.

The Exiles have played out from the back this season but they got away with one on 26 minutes when Townsend’s pass gifted the ball away only for Collins’ left-footed curling effort to go wide.

The stopper followed a bad moment with a good one, saving smartly with his feet after the ex-Exile shot from a cut-back by the impressive Richardson.

Rovers were on top as County struggled to keep possession and Townsend was to the rescue again after 34 minutes, denying Collins again by coming off his line impressively after a ball over the top has caused a problem.

It was the other keeper’s turn to keep it goalless on 37 minutes when Liam Shephard crossed dangerously from the right; Abrahams missed a chance to test Luke McGee but the ball fell to Labadie who made him dive smartly to his left.

Another chance came and went when Sheehan had his pocket-picked – it looked a good tackle despite some County grumbling from on and off the pitch – but captain Carl Winchester failed to hit the target with his drive from just outside the box.

It looked like it would be goalless at the break but then a long throw caused chaos in the box, Labadie got a toe to the ball and was then clattered.

Toner pointed to the spot and Abrahams scored, albeit rather unconvincingly with McGee diving over the ball.

County had something to hold onto and maintaining the advantage would allow them to play on the break, with fast legs waiting on their bench.

The Exiles would have been pleased to see Forest Green shooting wildly from distance after a disciplined start to the second half.

Proctor was denied by McGee after a near-post run to meet a ball from the left by the energetic Haynes and it remained 1-0 as the clock past the hour.

Padraig Amond and Saikou Janneh were called from the bench to both threaten and defend from the front, while Scott Twine replaced the booked Labadie.

Yet County were soon on level terms with Matt scoring against his former club after slotting home a cross from the right by Matty Stevens.

The Exiles needed to dig deep and they did to head home with a hard-earned point.

Forest Green: McGee, Stokes, Kitching, Winchester (captain), Adams, Collins, Cadden, Matt, Moore-Taylor, Godwin-Malife, Richardson.
Substitutes: Thomas, Wilson, Sweeney, Stevens, Bailey, Whitehouse, Wagstaff.
Goal: Matt

County: Townsend, Cooper, Dolan, Demetriou, Shephard, Haynes, Bennett, Sheehan, Labadie (Twine 73), Abrahams (Janneh 73), Proctor (Amond 63).
Substitutes: King, Willmott, Devitt, Ellison.
Yellow cards: Labadie
Goal: Abrahams

Referee: Ben Toner