Forest Green Rovers welcome Wealdstone to The New Lawn on Tuesday night, with just three points separating the sides after ten National League matches. Forest Green begin the evening 12th with 14 points, while Wealdstone sit 17th on 11 after returning to winning ways in emphatic fashion at the weekend.
Forest Green are without a victory in their last three league matches following a sequence that had previously produced consecutive wins. Robbie Savage’s side beat Hornchurch before recording an emphatic 4-0 home victory over Gateshead, but have taken only two points from the three fixtures since.
A 2-2 draw away at Carlisle United was followed by a 3-1 home defeat against Boston United. Forest Green created numerous opportunities in that contest and Jayden Clarke equalised after Boston had scored inside the opening minute, but Tom Cursons’ second-half penalty and a Lennon Wheeldon goal ultimately secured the points for the visitors.
Rovers then travelled to Sutton United on Saturday and were involved in a remarkable 3-3 draw. Clarke gave Forest Green an early lead before Oliver Ewing doubled the advantage shortly after half-time, but Freddie Sass’s second yellow card in the 52nd minute left the visitors to play almost 40 minutes with ten men.
Brandon Njoku reduced the deficit for Sutton before Kyle McAllister immediately restored Forest Green’s two-goal advantage at 3-1. Rovers were unable to protect it, however, with Charlie Carter scoring in the 79th minute before Temi Babalola equalised in the 93rd to deny Forest Green all three points.
Despite their recent results, Forest Green have remained a consistent attacking threat. They have scored in each of their last six National League matches and have found the net 16 times across their opening ten fixtures.
Wealdstone travel to Gloucestershire with renewed confidence after ending a four-match losing run in emphatic fashion. The Stones had suffered successive defeats against Kidderminster Harriers, FC Halifax Town, Tamworth and Aldershot Town before responding with a 4-0 home victory over Gateshead on Saturday.
Olufela Olomola opened the scoring at Grosvenor Vale before Luke Norris converted a penalty to give Wealdstone a two-goal advantage before half-time. Jack Wells-Morrison added a third immediately after the restart and substitute Jack Cook completed the scoring late on as the Stones recorded their biggest National League victory of the season.
Recent meetings between Forest Green and Wealdstone have been closely balanced. Across four encounters during the previous three seasons, each club has recorded one victory and two matches have ended level, with Forest Green scoring six goals and Wealdstone five.
The sides drew 1-1 at Grosvenor Vale last season, with Micah Obiero cancelling out Isaac Moore’s opener. Forest Green then recorded a 2-0 victory when the teams met at The New Lawn, with Neil Kengni and Gabriel Kircough on target for Rovers.
Forest Green begin Tuesday 12th in the National League with 14 points from ten matches after four wins, two draws and four defeats, with a goal difference of -1. Wealdstone sit 17th on 11 points after three wins, two draws and five defeats and have a goal difference of zero.
Tuesday gives Forest Green an opportunity to turn three encouraging attacking performances into a first victory in four matches, while Wealdstone travel to The New Lawn looking to build on Saturday’s four-goal win and prove that their emphatic response against Gateshead can mark the start of an improvement in form.
