Substitute Ben Williamson broke Forest Green hearts as his late winner saw Port Vale edge home at The New Lawn.

Ashley Vincent put Vale ahead early on as he skipped past two challenges before coolly finishing and then set up Clayton McDonald for the second.

James Norwood curled a shot into the top corner to give the home side hope before skipper Eddie Oshodi equalised.

Matty Taylor had a shot cleared off the line for Forest Green before Williamson headed home the winner.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Forest Green Manager Dave Hockaday told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"I'm proud as punch of the lads but we aren't managing the moments well enough and that's what we're getting punished for. Fair play to them for taking the chances.

"In the second half I thought we were outstanding, and there was only one team that was going to win the game.

"We've had shots cleared off the line, we've missed chances andwe've conceded the softest of goals. We can't keep on shooting ourselves in the foot.

"After today's performance you'd expect to come away with something but one silly moment, we lose the game."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Forest Green Rovers

  • 23 Russell
  • 03 Stokes (Brogan - 46' )
  • 05 Turley
  • 15 Oshodi Booked
  • 16 Asafu-Adjaye
  • 21 Racine
  • 04 Bangura
  • 08 Klukowski
  • 09 Styche (Taylor - 46' )
  • 10 Vieira (Koroma - 83' )
  • 20 Norwood

Substitutes

  • 01 Bulman
  • 02 Hodgkiss
  • 19 Rowe
  • 28 Brogan
  • 07 Koroma
  • 14 Taylor

Port Vale

  • 01 Neal
  • 02 Yates
  • 14 McDonald
  • 17 Davis Booked
  • 03 Taylor Booked (Loft - 71' )
  • 09 Myrie-Williams (Shuker - 85' )
  • 18 Morsy
  • 23 Burge
  • 08 Dodds (Williamson - 72' )
  • 10 Vincent
  • 11 Pope

Substitutes

  • 12 Johnson
  • 04 Murphy
  • 07 Loft
  • 15 Shuker
  • 21 James
  • 22 Lloyd
  • 19 Williamson
Ref: Phil Gibbs
Att: 1,753

Match Stats

Shots

11 8

On target

5 5

Corners

8 4

Fouls

12 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:31 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +3:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Burge by Eddie Oshodi. Ashley Vincent takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +2:24

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Yan Klukowski, Header from deep inside the area by Jamie Turley goes over the bar.

90:00 +0:59

Foul by James Norwood on Ashley Vincent, free kick awarded. Doug Loft takes the free kick.

89:55

Centre by James Norwood, save by Chris Neal.

89:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James Norwood by Doug Loft. Direct free kick taken by James Norwood.

88:47

James Norwood produces a cross, save by Chris Neal.

87:20

James Norwood delivers the ball, Matt Taylor takes a shot. Comfortable save by Chris Neal.

84:05 Substitution

Substitution Chris Shuker is brought on as a substitute for Jennison Myrie-Williams.

83:44

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Steve Brogan.

83:29

Yan Klukowski takes a shot. Sam Morsy gets a block in.

81:51

Chris Neal takes the indirect free kick.

81:51 Substitution

Substitution Omar Koroma is brought on as a substitute for Magno Vieira.

81:51

Matt Taylor is flagged offside by the assistant referee.

80:47

Doug Loft takes a shot. Sam Russell makes a comfortable save.

79:14

Assist by Ryan Burge.

79:14 Goal scored

Goal - Ben Williamson - Forest Grn 2 - 3 Port Vale Ben Williamson scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Forest Green 2-3 Port Vale.

78:47

Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Burge from the right by-line,

77:40

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Burge, clearance made by Jamie Turley.

75:44

Eddie Oshodi gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Pope. Ryan Burge takes the direct free kick.

75:19

Clayton McDonald fouled by Steve Brogan, the ref awards a free kick. Chris Neal restarts play with the free kick.

75:00

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ben Williamson on Ed Asafu-Adjaye. Sam Russell takes the free kick.

74:22

James Norwood produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

73:58

Ryan Burge decides to take a short corner.

73:47

The ball is sent over by Doug Loft.

71:26

Clayton McDonald restarts play with the free kick.

71:26 Substitution

Substitution Ben Williamson on for Louis Dodds.

71:26 Booking

Booking Eddie Oshodi shown a yellow card.

71:18

Eddie Oshodi concedes a free kick for a foul on Tom Pope.

70:07 Substitution

Substitution Doug Loft is brought on as a substitute for Robert Taylor.

68:42

Effort on goal by Al Bangura from long range goes harmlessly over the bar.

67:51

Matt Taylor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Davis. Chris Neal restarts play with the free kick.

66:24 Booking

Booking Robert Taylor receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

66:13

Robert Taylor concedes a free kick for a foul on James Norwood. Steve Brogan restarts play with the free kick.

62:16

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Yan Klukowski, Joe Davis fouled by Jamie Turley, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Chris Neal.

60:56

The ball is swung over by Jennison Myrie-Williams.

59:06

Steve Brogan takes a corner.

58:09

Corner taken by Steve Brogan from the right by-line, clearance by Clayton McDonald.

57:49

Matt Taylor takes a shot. Clayton McDonald manages to make a clearance.

57:09 Booking

Booking The referee books Joe Davis for unsporting behaviour.

56:57

Unfair challenge on James Norwood by Joe Davis results in a free kick. Sam Russell takes the direct free kick.

56:16

The ball is crossed by Robert Taylor, Aarran Racine makes a clearance.

55:48

Foul by Eddie Oshodi on Tom Pope, free kick awarded. Ryan Burge restarts play with the free kick.

55:03

Corner from the left by-line taken by Yan Klukowski, Clayton McDonald makes a clearance.

53:09

A cross is delivered by Jamie Turley, clearance by Clayton McDonald.

52:02

Free kick awarded for a foul by Al Bangura on Clayton McDonald. Free kick taken by Chris Neal.

51:37

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Magno Vieira by Sam Morsy. Al Bangura takes the direct free kick.

50:59

A cross is delivered by Jamie Turley, Yan Klukowski has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

48:23

The assist for the goal came from Steve Brogan.

48:23 Goal scored

Goal - Eddie Oshodi - Forest Grn 2 - 2 Port Vale Eddie Oshodi gets on the score sheet with a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Forest Green 2-2 Port Vale.

47:32

Unfair challenge on James Norwood by Robert Taylor results in a free kick. Steve Brogan produces a cross,

45:01

The second half has started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Matt Taylor is brought on as a substitute for Reece Styche.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Steve Brogan joins the action as a substitute, replacing Chris Stokes.

45:00 +3:18 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +1:57

Eddie Oshodi sends in a cross, Chris Neal makes a save.

45:00 +0:13

Corner taken by Yan Klukowski from the right by-line, Clayton McDonald makes a clearance.

44:04

The referee blows for offside. Ryan Burge takes the direct free kick.

42:03

Reece Styche takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.

41:28

Foul by Ryan Burge on Magno Vieira, free kick awarded. Yan Klukowski restarts play with the free kick.

39:18

Ed Asafu-Adjaye produces a cross, save by Chris Neal.

38:34

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Yan Klukowski, Sam Morsy makes a clearance.

38:16

Joe Davis challenges Reece Styche unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Stokes restarts play with the free kick.

36:45

Unfair challenge on Tom Pope by Aarran Racine results in a free kick. Jennison Myrie-Williams has an effort direct from the free kick.

33:28

The assist for the goal came from Yan Klukowski.

33:28 Goal scored

Goal - James Norwood - Forest Grn 1 - 2 Port Vale A goal is scored by James Norwood from inside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Forest Green 1-2 Port Vale.

28:36

Unfair challenge on Al Bangura by Ryan Burge results in a free kick. Al Bangura takes the free kick.

24:29

The referee blows for offside. Ryan Burge takes the free kick.

23:00

Foul by Jamie Turley on Tom Pope, free kick awarded. Jennison Myrie-Williams has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.

21:33

Ashley Vincent crosses the ball, save by Sam Russell.

19:36

Magno Vieira has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.

19:02

Ryan Burge concedes a free kick for a foul on Yan Klukowski. Al Bangura takes the free kick.

17:46

Foul by Clayton McDonald on Reece Styche, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Yan Klukowski.

11:55

Assist on the goal came from Ashley Vincent.

11:46

Ryan Burge delivers the ball,

11:55

Assist on the goal came from Sam Morsy.

11:55 Goal scored

Goal - Clayton McDonald - Forest Grn 0 - 2 Port Vale Clayton McDonald finds the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty area. Forest Green 0-2 Port Vale.

11:46

The ball is sent over by Ryan Burge,

11:16

Short corner taken by Ryan Burge.

10:28

James Norwood fouled by Adam Yates, the ref awards a free kick. Chris Stokes restarts play with the free kick.

10:03

Shot by Sam Morsy from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.

8:56

Adam Yates produces a cross, Louis Dodds produces a header from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the goal.

7:47

Robert Taylor produces a cross.

6:38 Goal scored

Goal - Ashley Vincent - Forest Grn 0 - 1 Port Vale Ashley Vincent gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Forest Green 0-1 Port Vale.

4:10

The ball is sent over by Jennison Myrie-Williams, clearance made by Eddie Oshodi.

3:25

Unfair challenge on Ryan Burge by James Norwood results in a free kick. Chris Neal takes the direct free kick.

2:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jennison Myrie-Williams on Reece Styche. Yan Klukowski takes the free kick.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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