John McAtee’s second-half strike was enough to see Forest Green Rovers slip to a 1-0 defeat away to Scunthorpe United this afternoon.

The 20-year-old struck a minute into the second half to net his second goal in three games and give the hosts all three points.

There were two changes to the starting XI, as Udoka Godwin-Malife returned from his loan spell at Eastleigh and his own injury to fill the void left at right wing-back left by the injuries to Liam Shephard and Dom Bernard.

George Williams, fresh from his late equaliser against Oldham Athletic, was rewarded with his first start since his return from his leg break.

It was a first half of few opportunities, with only one shot registered on target.

Forest Green controlled large part of the first half and Williams nearly picked up where he left off at Boundary Park when the ball fell to him in the 15th.

A short corner was worked to Carl Winchester on the corner of the box, who found Williams, but the Welshman could only hold his hands to his heads as his shot that looked dangerously was superbly blocked for another corner.

Aaron Collins, who started in the lone striker role, cut in off the right flank in the 21st minute but his left-footed effort from the edge of the box dipped just over the bar.

Less than a minute later and Scunthorpe were down the other end with Kevin van Veen down the left side, drilling a shot across the face of goal.

FGR were enjoying a lot of possession in the Scunthorpe half during the half but apart from corners, which tallied eight in the first 45, there were few clear opportunities at goal.

Meanwhile, activity in the FGR box for Lewis Thomas to deal with was highlighted in the 34th minute when two pigeons felt they could rest from their flight for a period of time inside the six-yard box.

It was a good counter attack that almost led to FGR’s best chance in the 44th minute when Collins set away Williams, who laid the ball back to Nathan McGinley, but his low cross was scrambled behind for a corner as both teams went into the break level.

It was the worst possible start to the second period for the visitors, as the home side scored with their first attack a minute into the half.

Abo Eisa got away down the left and despite good work from Farrend Rawson to hold him up, the ball inside found McAtee in space and he passed it nonchalantly into the far corner.

In the 61st minute, a good save from Thomas denied Scunthorpe their second of the game and kept FGR in the contest.

McAtee was played through, one-on-one, but the keeper was off his line well, to block the shot, before a cross came in and James Perch headed wide.

Thomas had to be alert to another one-on-one opportunity for the hosts in the 77th minute, when Stokes misjudged the bounce of the ball and Kevin van Veen got in behind. His first touch, however, let him down as it was heavy and allowed Thomas off his line to close him down and scupper the chance.

Forest Green started applying the pressure in the final 10 minutes but luck wasn’t on their side in the 82nd minute.

Winchester played in a cross from a free-kick down the left and under pressure from Rawson, Rory Watson dropped the ball but it bounced kindly off a blue back and Scunthorpe were able to hack clear.

It was even closer for Rawson in the 84th minute when McGinley delivered a free-kick, from the left this time, to the back post and the centre-back’s header agonisingly lifted over the bar.

With four minutes left to play, Scunthorpe were throwing their bodies on the line to secure all three points.

Forest Green cut the ball back to Adams on the edge of the box and it was Lewis Butroid throwing himself at it in the six-yard box to deny the FGR midfielder a leveller.

The referee awarded five minutes of time added on, however, it proved fruitless for FGR as they were unable to repeat what they did against Oldham a week prior.

Scunthorpe XI: Watson, Butler (c), van Veen (Miller90+5’), Perch, Gabriel, Butroid, Gilliead McArdle, Eisa, Bedeau, McAtee

Unused subs: Kelsey, Songo’o, Green, Beestin, Rowe, Liddle

Forest Green XI: Thomas, Rawson, Winchester (c), Collins (Hall 63’), Williams (March 63’), Adams, Dawson, McGinley, Kitching, Godwin-Malife (Aitchison 63’), Stokes

Unused subs: Logan, Stevens, Brown, Frear

Referee: Carl Boyson

Attendance: 3,706

Man of the match: Carl Winchester

Next time out: Leyton Orient, The New Lawn, Saturday, February 29, 3pm