Forest Green 2 Wycombe Wanderers 0
FOREST Green grabbed their first win of the pre-season campaign as league two side Wycombe were brushed aside at the New Lawn. Ex-Bury striker Mangan scored his first goal in the black and white stripes after two minutes, and Les Afful wrapped the game up on 85 minutes after Lee Fowler had missed a penalty earlier in the second half. Results might not be important at this stage, but Rovers boss Jim Harvey was encouraged by his side’s performance as they passed Peter Taylor’s Wycombe off the park, although the visitors did seem well off the pace. "The boys acquitted themselves well," said Harvey. "It was a good test and the boys will be pleased about that. We’ve had three excellent games and it’s been a good start for us." Harvey was also pleased to see new signing Mangan and fellow striker Afful hit the back of the net for the first time this season. "They will want to get off the mark," he said. "That will help with their confidence and they will feel better about themselves having done that." On-trial right back Clive Thomas was given the chance to impress and he was involved straight away as Forest Green took an early lead. His interception, run and pass allowed Jamie Pitman to send in a low cross from the right byline, and Mangan poached to score from close range. On 27 minutes Alex Lawless chipped a little pass forward to Kaid Mohamed, but the former Swindon Town man lobbed the ball just wide from 16 yards. Wycombe’s best chance came ten minutes after the half-time interval when John Mousinho threaded a through ball to Chris Zebroski, who pulled his shot wide from 15 yards. After 71 minutes Forest Green were awarded a debatable penalty. Wycombe defender Leon Johnson made a hash of an attempted pass back, and Afful raced through one on one with goalkeeper Scott Shearer, and after having his initial shot blocked from close range, he was deemed to have been brought down by the former Bristol Rovers stopper. Fowler took the responsibility of taking the penalty but his effort was too weak and too close to Shearer, who dived down to his right to make the save. On the rebound Fowler pulled the ball back to ex-Slimbridge striker Mike Symons, who could only hit the side netting. With five minutes remaining Forest Green made sure of the victory as Isaac Shaze threaded the ball through to Les Afful, who showed good composure to place the ball past Shearer into the bottom left corner.
Gazette star man: John Hardiker – Did his chances of earning the captain’s armband for the new season no harm at all with a commanding display at the back.
Forest Green: Robinson, Thomas (Baines, 46), Stonehouse (McDonald, 46), Molyneaux (Ashford, 62), Hardiker ©, Pitman (Smith, 62), Fowler (Mensah, 73), Lawless (Symons, 66), Mangan (Afful, 46), Mohamed (Shaxton, 62), Platt (Shaze, 46). Wycombe 1st half: Young, Crooks, Woodman, Doherty, Antwi, Williamson, Grant, Mousinho, Sutton, Knight, Duncan. Wycombe 2nd half: Shearer, McCracken, Woodman (Rice, 60), Johnson, Spence, Zebroski, Mousinho (Green 60), Holt, McGleish, Vieira. Referee: Simon Hooper. Attendance: 581
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