A late, late winner from Charlie McCann snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory for Forest Green Rovers against Altrincham at The Bolt New Lawn, leaving the visitors heartbroken after their late equaliser looked to have secured a point.
The home side took the lead in the 21st minute. A flowing passing move culminated in Emmanuel Osadebe sliding a perfectly weighted through-ball to Christian Doidge, who calmly slotted the ball past the Altrincham goalkeeper. Stung by the setback, Altrincham responded with increased pressure, but Forest Green’s defence held firm. The first half’s competitive nature was reflected in yellow cards for both Edward Jones of Altrincham and Forest Green’s Jamie Robson following robust challenges.
The second half developed into a tactical affair, with both managers making substitutions in an attempt to gain the upper hand. Altrincham’s changes appeared to revitalise their attack, and in the 83rd minute, their persistence was rewarded. Substitute Matthew Kosylo, having only just entered the fray, delivered a precise cross to fellow substitute George Wilson, who forced the ball home to level the scores and silence the home support.
Just as a draw seemed inevitable, drama unfolded deep into stoppage time. In the 94th minute, Charlie McCann conjured a moment of magic, firing home a late winner to spark wild celebrations amongst the Forest Green faithful. Altrincham were left to rue their missed opportunity, their late equaliser rendered meaningless by McCann’s intervention. The final whistle blew shortly after, confirming a thrilling victory for Forest Green.
The closing stages saw a flurry of late bookings for Altrincham as frustrations boiled over, adding to the earlier cautions. The win takes Forest Green to 8 points, while Altrincham remain on 6.