Aldershot Town 0-1 Forest Green Rovers

A sluggish start caused the downfall of Gary Waddock's side at the Rec as a run of 13 successive home victories ended at the Rec as Forest Green Rovers netted in the first minute through Mark Beesley. Interviews with the boss, Coach Martin Kuhl, Ricky Newman and Nikki Bull are now available on The Shots Online. Please follow the home page heading for information on how to subscribe to this service. Members were informed by SMS Text at 8.30am that the game was on and there would be no pitch inpsection

After 13 successive home victories the tremendous home record created by Gary Waddock's side was always going to end at some stage.

Forest Green Rovers manager Jim Harvey is no stranger to causing problems for the Shots; he did so many times when he was in charge at Morecambe.

The Irishman will have been delighted with his sides success at the Rec but, no doubt, surprised with how sluggish the home side were in the opening exchanges.

Indeed Rovers capitalised on uncertainty and indecision at the back within 30 seconds of the start of the game which allowed Mark Beesley to break through and slot the ball past the helpless Nikki Bull.

The visitors lead could have been extended within a minute when Alex Lawless directed a free kick from the edge of the 18 yard box just over the bar.

With a confident ending to their game at Woking, a positive build up in training during the week it came as a real shock to see such a slow start to the game for the home side.

It was a point highlighted by boss Waddock afterwards.

He told 'The Shots' "I am extremely disappointed in the manner that we lost. We told the players to go out there and have a high tempo start to the game but then we conceded within seconds.

"There will be twists and turns throughout the season and today was one for us. We have to ensure that we remain focussed, start games properly and see them out. Today was not what we are all about".

Indeed Shots huffed and puffed throughout the first half but rarely called Ryan Robinson in the visiting goal into action. Ben Harding, assertive in the middle of the park, carved out a couple of opportunities from distance and Joel Grant struck goalbound in first half injury time after good work from Anthony Charles and Ricky Newman but every time the Gloucestershire side attacked you felt uncomfortable.

Bull was forced into action to deny Beesley another goal after the much in demand Stuart Fleetwood had set his strike partner up.

After the break Fleetwood proved why he is such a valuable asset to his side and why substantial six figure sums are being banded out at the moment for his commitment.

A host of Football League clubs are expressing an interest in the 21 year old former Hereford United striker and only the valiant efforts of Nikki Bull denied him adding to his impressive 30 goal tally this season.

Rovers should have sown the game up within two minutes of the restart when Fleetwood took advantage of more hesitation within the home rearguard. Through on goal Fleetwood square the ball into the path of Beesley who, with Bull already out of the equation, only had to turn the ball into an empty net. He somehow hit the post. It felt like a penalty had been saved and the home support lifted. Unfortunately it didn't transform into the players.

Joel Grant did have an effort cleared off the line but rarely did the home side look capable of getting back on level terms because they were unable to work the visiting goalkeeper.

John Grant struck from distance and Dean Smith cut inside to create a good position but from 25 yards he sliced a left footed strike well wide of the target.

With the home side committing players forward it was always going to be a case of holding their nerve.

Just past the hour Fleetwood outmanoevered Rhys Day before striking into the side netting from the edge of the six yard box.

Bull gathered bravely at Fleetwood's feet a minute later and when the Blue Square Premier top scorer broke behind again on 71 minutes he fired just over the bar from the right hand edge of the 18 yard box with Day in pursuit.

Danny Hylton did pose problems and found space for two good opportunities but was unable to connect firmly enough with his strikes and when John Grant was put through with just six minutes remaining his strike was cleared into the path of Dixon whose 25 yard lob sailed over the bar.

Most home supporters knew that it was going to be a tough ask to get back on level terms and not for the first time Forest Green came away with maximum points from the Rec.

It could have been worst though. In injury time Smith appeared to haul down Fleetwood inside the penalty box. Assistant Referee Alex Groves flagged for the infringement but Euro 2008 bound referee Mike Mullarkey waived play on without appearing to look at his assistant. Smith would have been dismissed for his sins but there was no way back for Shots. They had accepted their fate by then.