Forest Green Rovers fell just short as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Lincoln City.

Despite another good performance, and an early goal from Reece Brown, it wasn't quite enough as the Imps turned it around with a John Akinde brace.

Mark Cooper made three changes to the side that lost at Mansfield Town a week ago as Shawn McCoulsky and Nathan McGinley came into side while James Montgomery returned from injury to replace Lewis Ward in goal.

With a lot riding on the game for both sides, it was clear that they each wanted to draw first blood and the open start to the game showed just that.

The Imps had a chance early on as Bruno Andrade broke down the left after just two minutes but his ball to the back post had too much on it and it scampered away from Matt Rhead.

Two minutes later is was Rovers turn to try their luck as Shawn McCoulsky picked up on Paul Digby’s knock-down before spinning and firing an effort at goal which Matt Gilks did well to push away.

The deadlock was broken after just eight minutes as George Williams was fouled on the edge of the area and Brown’s free-kick nicked off the wall and dropped into the corner sending Gilks the wrong way.

It didn’t take long for the Imps to get themselves back on terms though as Neal Eardley’s whipped cross to the back post was met by Akinde and his header looped over Montgomery into the far corner.

Forest Green began searching for a second as Williams drove into the area and won a corner, but a typically dangerous Lincoln City counter saw them back up the other end, calling Montgomery into action.

Another Eardley cross from the right caused trouble for Rovers but this time it was Matt Rhead who attacked it and Montgomery had to react brilliantly to get a strong right hand to the effort.

The Lincoln forward forced Montgomery into another save with 23 minutes on the clock, this time flicking a corner goalwards with the stooper being forced to tip over.

Shortly before the half hour mark Joseph Mills found Williams after doing well to keep the ball in and the Forest Green forward found Brown whose effort deflected into the arms of Gilks.

Williams had a go himself with the final five minutes of the half approaching but his effort was dealt with by Gilks who tipped over.

The second half started as a quieter affair but Forest Green began to grow into it, trying to capitalise on some tiring Lincoln legs.

Williams’ effort after 65 minutes needing a block from Michael Bostwick before, minutes later, he had an even better opportunity.

With McCoulsky breaking down the right he saw his effort deflected but it fell straight into the path of Williams who couldn’t beat the keeper from close range.

City weren’t without their chances though, Montgomery being called into action to make a good save at the back post to deny Akinde’s header from a free-kick.

With 76 minutes on the clock Akinde had a golden opportunity to put his side ahead as he made space for himself on the edge of the area before sending the ball high over the goal.

Just one minute later, Lincoln added a second. Andrade showed his pace down the left before cutting inside and going down under the challenge of Lee Collins.

Akinde stepped up and slotted the ball home into the bottom left corner.

Forest Green Rovers XI: Montgomery, Rawson, Winchester, Doidge, Brown (Grubb 87’), Williams, Gunning (c), McGinley (Collins 46’), Digby, McCoulsky (Mondal79’), Mills

Unused subs: Ward, James, Liddle, Godwin-Malife

Lincoln City XI: Gilks, O’Connor, Shackell, O’Hara, Rhead (McCartan 70’), Andrade, Toffolo, Bostwick, Neal Eardley, Anderson, Akinde

Unused subs: Vickers, Pett, Angol, Bolger, Roberts, Smith

Attendance: 3,165 (822 away)

Referee: Andy Davies

Man of the Match: Reece Brown