A tense encounter unfolded at The Bolt New Lawn, where Forest Green Rovers secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a resilient Boston United. The only goal of the game arrived in the 36th minute, courtesy of Harvey Bunker. Christian Doidge crafted the opportunity with a clever assist, allowing Bunker to find the back of the net and give the home side the advantage.
The goal injected immediate energy into the match. Forest Green, spurred on by their breakthrough, pushed forward in search of a second, while Boston United were forced to reorganise and hunt for an equaliser. The game’s intensity spilled over just minutes later, in the 39th minute, when Forest Green’s Adam May was shown a yellow card for a foul.
The second half saw a flurry of substitutions as both teams looked to alter the course of the match. Boston United made the first move in the 61st minute, replacing Daniel Adshead with Keaton Ward in a tactical switch. Forest Green responded with a double substitution. In the 75th minute, goalscorer Bunker’s provider, Christian Doidge, made way for Harry Cardwell, followed two minutes later by the introduction of Teddy Jenks for Tom Knowles. Boston United continued to shuffle their pack, bringing on Adam Marriott for Frankie Maguire (76th minute), Jacob Hazel for Samuel Reed (83rd minute), and finally Martin Woods for Dylan Hill in the 95th minute.
Despite Boston United’s persistent efforts and the numerous changes, Forest Green’s defence stood firm, repelling their opponents’ attempts to find a leveller. There was a late moment of drama in the 90th minute when Bunker, the first-half hero, received a yellow card for a foul.
This closely contested match was a stark contrast to the previous meeting between the two sides earlier in the season, a fixture which Forest Green dominated, winning 4-0. This time, Boston United demonstrated significantly improved defensive solidity, making for a much tighter affair. The victory strengthens Forest Green’s league position, moving them to 45 points and consolidating their hold on 3rd place. Boston United remain in 23rd place with 15 points. This was the second encounter between these two teams this season, with Forest Green victorious in both.