Match ends, Forest Green Rovers 1, Dartford 0.
Forest Green Rovers 1-0 Dartford
- From the section Conference
James Norwood's strike earned managerless Forest Green victory over Dartford to end their run of five straight defeats.
Norwood headed home after only five minutes when he rose highest to meet Marcus Kelly's cross.
The Rovers striker then went close with an ambitious long-range volley which flew narrowly wide.
Dartford should have equalised but Max Cornhill stabbed Ryan Hayes' low cross wide of an open goal.
And the visitors were denied a leveller again when goalkeeper Sam Russell saved Hayes' shot with his feet.
Forest Green were led by academy manager Scott Bartlett, who will remain in charge at the New Lawn until a permanent successor to Dave Hockaday is found.
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
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Forest Green Rovers caretaker boss Scott Bartlett told BBC Gloucestershire:
"My job is to steady the ship, look after training and to be here on a match day.
"The lads have worked really hard this week and I think you saw a spirited performance there.
"We sent a team out there that was going to work, give 100% and I think they've done that."
Dartford manager Tony Burman told BBC Radio Kent:
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"I think we played alright. We worked hard in dreadful conditions and we deserved something from the game but it wasn't to be.
"In today's performance I can't fault the effort. We conceded in the first five minutes, which was disappointing, but we should have come in level, if not in the lead.
"I think we did enough to take something from the game. We didn't test the goalkeeper enough but our build-up play was excellent."
Line-ups
Forest Green
- 1Russell
- 22Green
- 6Bennett
- 3StokesSubstituted forHodgkissat 52'minutes
- 12Asafu-Adjaye
- 5Turley
- 8Klukowski
- 24Kelly
- 4Bangura
- 9Wright
- 7Norwood
Substitutes
- 19Styche
- 10Vieira
- 13Bulman
- 17Brogan
- 2Hodgkiss
Dartford
- 1Julian
- 5ClarkBooked at 90mins
- 19Fry
- 14Mitchell-KingBooked at 83mins
- 15CollierSubstituted forIbemereat 72'minutes
- 20Burns
- 30Woodyard
- 6Cornhill
- 21Godden
- 7Hayes
- 16BirchallSubstituted forHillat 90+1'minutes
Substitutes
- 11Harris
- 22Forecast
- 27Monger
- 18Ibemere
- 2Hill
- Referee:
- Craig Hicks
- Attendance:
- 960
Match Stats
Home TeamForest GreenAway TeamDartford
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away1
- Corners
- Home0
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away8
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Forest Green Rovers 1, Dartford 0.
Attempt missed. Lee Burns (Dartford) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Corner, Dartford.
Foul by Paul Green (Forest Green Rovers).
Josh Hill (Dartford) wins a free kick.
Corner, Dartford.
Substitution
Substitution, Dartford. Josh Hill replaces Adam Birchall.
Booking
Kenny Clark (Dartford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Kenny Clark (Dartford).
James Norwood (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick.
Foul by Paul Green (Forest Green Rovers).
Lee Burns (Dartford) wins a free kick.
Attempt missed. Yan Klukowski (Forest Green Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Marcus Kelly with a cross.
Foul by James Norwood (Forest Green Rovers).
Lee Burns (Dartford) wins a free kick.
Foul by Mathew Mitchell-King (Dartford).
Daniel Wright (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick.
Booking
Mathew Mitchell-King (Dartford) is shown the yellow card for dissent.
Attempt missed. Max Cornhill (Dartford) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Alex Woodyard with a cross.
Foul by Paul Green (Forest Green Rovers).
Uche Ibemere (Dartford) wins a free kick.
Corner, Dartford.
Foul by Daniel Wright (Forest Green Rovers).
Kenny Clark (Dartford) wins a free kick.
Foul by Ryan Hayes (Dartford).
Ed Asafu-Adjaye (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick.
Attempt missed. Daniel Wright (Forest Green Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Yan Klukowski with a cross.
Attempt missed. Ryan Hayes (Dartford) left footed shot from outside the box.
Corner, Dartford.
Substitution
Substitution, Dartford. Uche Ibemere replaces Nathan Collier.
Attempt missed. Paul Green (Forest Green Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by James Norwood.
Corner, Forest Green Rovers.
Attempt saved. James Norwood (Forest Green Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Offside, Forest Green Rovers. Yan Klukowski tries a through ball, but Yan Klukowski is caught offside.
Hand ball by Daniel Wright (Forest Green Rovers).
Foul by Al Bangura (Forest Green Rovers).
Adam Birchall (Dartford) wins a free kick.
Foul by Daniel Wright (Forest Green Rovers).
Kenny Clark (Dartford) wins a free kick.
