Forest Green Rovers secured a 3-0 victory over AFC Fylde at The Bolt New Lawn, a scoreline that ultimately flattered the home side and didn’t fully reflect the competitive nature of the match for much of the 90 minutes.
The first half was a tight affair, with few clear-cut chances for either side. The tension on the pitch was palpable, and a series of yellow cards began to accumulate, the first shown to Fylde’s Harry Davis in the 29th minute for a foul. The breakthrough finally came in the 35th minute when Charlie McCann found the back of the net, giving Forest Green a slender 1-0 lead going into half-time.
The second half saw both managers turn to their benches in search of a decisive advantage. Fylde made a triple substitution, introducing Taelor O’Kane, Tyler Roberts, and Charlie Jolley, while Forest Green brought on Emmanuel Osadebe and Harry Cardwell. Later, Harvey Bunker also joined the fray for the home side. Osadebe’s introduction proved pivotal, and despite receiving a yellow card shortly after coming on, he provided the assist for Jamie Robson’s 89th-minute goal, which effectively sealed the three points for Forest Green.
Robson’s goal seemed to unlock the game, and just two minutes later, in the 91st minute, fellow substitute Harvey Bunker added a third, converting a chance created by Kyle McAllister, who had replaced an unnamed player in the 19th minute. Robson’s contribution ended moments after his goal, as he was replaced by Jordan Moore-Taylor in the 92nd minute.
The late flurry of goals gave the impression of a dominant Forest Green performance, but for large periods, Fylde had competed well. The substitutions undoubtedly played a significant role in the final outcome, with Forest Green’s changes injecting fresh impetus into their attack, while Fylde’s seemed to disrupt their rhythm and expose their defence.
The win takes Forest Green to 17 points, consolidating their league position. AFC Fylde, however, remain on five points and face a challenging road ahead. While league meetings between these two sides have been absent for three seasons, the match highlighted the disparity in their current form.