SKY BET LEAGUE TWO

CHELTENHAM TOWN 2

FOREST GREEN 2

FOREST GREEN and Cheltenham Town shared the derby day spoils in a high-octane thriller.

Mark Cooper’s side looked destined to take the bragging rights and a fourth straight victory. Second-half strikes from Tahvon Campbell and George Williams handed Rovers an impregnable 2-0 cushion, but fighting Cheltenham refused to down tools.

Ex-Premier League striker Luke Varney gave the Robins hope as he pulled a goal back with 12 minutes left on the clock, and two minutes later Michael Duff’s side grabbed a point when Connor Thomas struck after James Montgomery spilled a Chris Hussey cross on 80 minutes.

With Rovers in rude health, Cooper named an unchanged side against a Cheltenham side boast six straight home wins.

Boasting an unparalleled record on the road, Rovers were at it from the get-go. George Williams, full of confidence from his hat-trick on Boxing Day, demanding a plunging save from Scott Flinders after winning a free-kick from a crude Jordan Forster challenge.

Williams was at it again driving into the box and forcing Flinders to glove away.

It was nip and tuck, but Rovers were a smidge from breaking the deadlock on 17 minutes. Rovers' LIoyd James opened up the Cheltenham defence, but Flinders wass quick out of the blocks to smother at the feet of Tahvon Campbell.

Rovers continued to knock on the door – Reece Brown striking a howitzer that hit the flying Flinders on the chest.

James Montgomery was untroubled until a superb parry from Chris Hussey’s cross and then, somehow James got back to block Alex Addai’s follow up as the net bulged in anticipation.

Cheltenham opened the second period on the front foot. The scampering Alex Addai stepped on the gas and clipped the ball back, but Tyrone Barnett, arriving into the box, shined the ball wide ,with just Montgomery to beat.

Cheltenham boss Michael Duff turned to the bench. Hooking Sam Jones and Tyrone Barnett for former Premier League striker Luke Varney and Jacob Maddox.

However, Rovers turned the screw and took the lead on 61 minutes. The roof came off - Brown broke through and rolled in Campbell, the former West Brom striker took a touch and bent a sumptuous strike behind Flinders from just inside the box.

Six minutes later Rovers were 2-0 up. Campbell fed strike partner Williams who confidently skipped forward to fizz through the legs of Flinders. Williams exuberant celebrations with the FGR fans earned the red hot striker a yellow.

The game looked done and dusted, but Cheltenham were given a lifeline when Varney took advantage of a Nathan McGinley howler and he race on to strike beyond Montgomery with 12 minutes to go.

Rovers were rocked and two minutes later the Robins found parity. Montgomery flapped at a deep Hussey cross and Thomas stabbed home despite the efforts of McGinley to keep the ball out.

Rovers end 2018 in sixth, just two points off automatic promotion.

Cheltenham Town (3-4-3): S Flinders; J Forster, B Tozer, J Mullins; C Thomas, N Atangana, C Clements, C Hussey; A Addai, T Barnett (L Varney 56), S Jones (J Maddox 56).

Subs not used: R Lovett, K Dawson, M Bower, C Alcock, A Brennan.

Forest Green: (3-5-2) Montogmery; McGinley (Collins 87), Gunning, Rawson; Mills, James, Winchester, Brown, Shephard; Williams (Grubb 71), Campbell ( Reid 77)

Subs not used: Thomas, Morris, Worthington, Archibald

Attendance: 5,125

FGR fans: 879

Star Man: Tahvon Campbell

Next up: Forest Green welcome Northampton Town on New Year’s Day, 3pm.