Forest Green Rovers swept aside a struggling Ebbsfleet United with a commanding 3-1 victory at The Bolt New Lawn, cementing their place at the top of the National League table. The home side’s dominance was evident from the first whistle, and they took a deserved lead just seven minutes into the match. A flowing passing move culminated in Kyle McAllister applying the finishing touch, giving Forest Green the early advantage they were clearly seeking. Ebbsfleet, already burdened by a poor run of form, found themselves constantly on the back foot, struggling to contain the Rovers’ vibrant attack. Their difficulties were compounded in the 19th minute when Pape Souaré was booked for a rash challenge.
Despite Ebbsfleet’s attempts to reorganise, Forest Green maintained their firm grip on the game. A tactical substitution just before half-time saw goalscorer McAllister replaced by Tom Knowles, a change that would pay dividends in the second half. Ebbsfleet made a double change at the break, introducing Wesley Fonguck and Gregory Cundle in an attempt to revitalise their attacking play. However, it was Forest Green who struck next, just two minutes into the second half. Jamie Robson doubled the home side’s advantage in the 47th minute, punishing some hesitant defending from the visitors. The game was effectively over just five minutes later, when substitute Knowles made an immediate impact, scoring Forest Green’s third.
To their credit, Ebbsfleet refused to surrender and pulled a goal back in the 71st minute. Half-time substitute Wesley Fonguck finished well from a Craig Tanner assist, offering a glimmer of hope for the beleaguered visitors. Both sides continued to make changes as the game wore on, with Ebbsfleet desperately searching for a route back into the match, while Forest Green sought to control proceedings and protect their lead. Despite a late surge of activity from Ebbsfleet and a yellow card for Knowles in stoppage time, the scoreline remained unchanged.
The victory extends Forest Green’s winning streak to three games, while Ebbsfleet remain rooted to the bottom of the table, their winless run now stretching to five matches. This result, coming after a three-season absence of league meetings between the two sides, starkly highlights the contrasting fortunes of the clubs this campaign.