Forest Green Rovers earned back-to-back victories for the first time this season as they saw off Exeter City at St James Park.

A Reece Brown stunner early in the second half and Liam Shephard’s impressive drive with less 20 minutes to play was enough for FGR to claim all three points and end The Grecians’ five match winning run at home.

Exeter found the net with a freak goal deep into added time as Aaron Martin's long ball forward was mis-controlled by Sanchez and the ball rolled into the net.

Mark Cooper made two changes to the side that completed a 3-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday evening.

One enforced with Nathan McGinley coming in for the suspended Farrend Rawson, while Robert Sanchez returned in goal for James Montgomery.

The first chance of the game came after nine minutes as Jonathan Forte was played through by Jayden Stockley but a good save from Sanchez, along with the linesman’s flag, prevented the ball from finding the net.

Just like they did in midweek against Tranmere Rovers, FGR started brightly and with 12 minutes on the clock they had their first shot on goal. Carl Winchester founded space of the edge of the area but his curling effort was palmed away well by James Hamon.

Just shy of the 20th minute, Rovers had another chance to open the scoring, this time through Dayle Grubb. Tahvon Campbell did well to bring a long ball into his control before finding Grubb who tried work it onto his favoured right foot before seeing his effort blocked.

Half an hour into the encounter The Grecians had the best chance of the first half as Nicky Law raced through, rounded Sanchez and fired off the face of the near post from a tight angle, the ball then flashing across the face of goal but eventually coming to nothing.

Grubb, racing forward with 37 minutes on the clock, again saw the home defence open up for him but this time his effort was saved comfortably by Hamon.

Moments before the half-time whistle, some brilliant build-up lead to Brown sliding a ball through to Campbell but a brilliant challenge from Luke Croll stopped him getting the shot away.

Having found the net for the first time this season in midweek, Brown once again put his name on the scoresheet and this time it was even more special. Picking the ball up on the right of the area, Brown shifted his weight to the left before curling a sumptuous effort into the far top corner passed a helpless Hamon.

The game seemed to settle a little after the goal with neither side creating a clear chance of note for 20 minutes but with 72 minutes on the clock, Rovers doubled their lead. Picking the ball up on the right, Shephard had time to control the ball, drive forward and fire a powerful drive into the far, bottom corner from outside the area.

Exeter were resorting to long balls forward but the FGR defence, as they have done consistently this season, stayed resolute and the hosts best chance came through Matt Jay wwho fired over from range in added time.

Deep into added time Exeter did find a goal as Sanchez tried to control Martin's over-hit ball through but mis-controlled the rolling ball and it trickled under his foot into the back of the net.

Exeter City XI: Hamon, Sweeney, Martin, Tillson, Martin, Law, Stockley, Forte, Moxey, Croll, Taylor.

On the bench: Weale, Woodman (Law 80), O’Shea, Jay (Tillson 54’), Oates, Abrahams (Forte 65’), Collins.

Forest Green Rovers XI: Sanchez, Shephard, James, Winchester, Grubb, Brown, Campbell, Gunning, McGinley, Digby, Mills.

On the bench: Montgomery, Collins (Winchester 90'), Williams, Pearce, Archibald (Grubb 73’), Worthington, Morris.

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Attendance: 4,983 (210 away)

Man of the match: Reece Brown