Forest Green Rovers produced a dominant second-half display to overturn a 1-0 half-time deficit and secure a convincing 3-1 victory against Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.
The Spitfires had taken the lead in the 37th minute through a well-constructed move. Jake Taylor provided the assist for Chris Maguire, who finished with aplomb to give the home side a deserved advantage. Eastleigh looked the more threatening side for the remainder of the first half and appeared poised to extend their lead.
However, Forest Green emerged from the break with renewed vigour and swiftly levelled the scores. Just two minutes into the second half, Charlie McCann’s assist found Harry Cardwell, who made no mistake in converting the chance to make it 1-1. The equaliser proved to be a turning point, dramatically shifting the momentum in favour of the visitors.
Forest Green’s relentless pressure paid dividends once more in the 57th minute. Tom Knowles found space inside the penalty area and clinically dispatched the ball past the Eastleigh goalkeeper to put Rovers in the lead. Eastleigh responded by introducing Wesley McDonald and Noa Boutin in the 73rd minute in a double substitution aimed at bolstering their midfield, but they struggled to contain the Forest Green attack.
The visitors then extinguished any hopes of an Eastleigh comeback in the 69th minute, extending their lead to 3-1. A flowing passing move involving Kyle McAllister culminated in Charlie McCann finding the back of the net, securing his second assist of the match and a goal for himself.
With the victory effectively secured, Forest Green manager made a series of substitutions, seemingly with an eye on future fixtures. Cardwell, Knowles, Sercombe, May, and Robson were all withdrawn in the closing stages, allowing fresh legs onto the pitch. The changes had little impact on the game’s flow, as Forest Green comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to claim all three points.
The win elevates Forest Green to second in the National League table, while Eastleigh remain in seventh. While league meetings between these two sides have been absent in recent seasons, Forest Green undoubtedly made a significant statement with this emphatic victory.