A pulsating 2-2 draw unfolded at Roots Hall, where Southend United and Forest Green Rovers played out a thrilling encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Forest Green, dominant in possession throughout the first half, finally broke the deadlock just before the interval. A pinpoint pass from Jamie Robson found Harvey Bunker, who calmly slotted the ball home to give the visitors a deserved 1-0 lead.
The second half witnessed a dramatic turnaround in fortunes. Southend, rejuvenated after the break, found their equaliser in the 63rd minute. Gus Scott-Morriss delivered a telling pass to Nathan Ralph, who finished with aplomb to level the scores. The momentum swung towards the home side, but Forest Green responded swiftly. Substitute Christian Doidge, introduced moments earlier, made an instant impact, restoring Forest Green’s lead in the 73rd minute and sending the away fans into raptures.
Southend’s resilience was evident just four minutes later, as Oliver Coker capitalised on a Josh Walker assist to make it 2-2. The closing stages were frantic, with both teams searching for a winner, but neither could find the decisive breakthrough. A series of substitutions from both sides added to the drama, disrupting the flow of the game while creating fresh attacking impetus. The intensity of the match was reflected in yellow cards shown to Southend’s Scott-Morriss, Walker, and Miley.
Entering the match, Forest Green occupied a position near the top of the National League table, while Southend were positioned mid-table. The draw sees Forest Green remain in second place, while Southend climb one position to 16th. The result halts Forest Green’s winning streak but extends their unbeaten run.
