EFL LEAGUE TWO

FOREST GREEN 0

ACCRINGTON STANLEY 1

A FORTUITOUS second-half strike from skipper Seamus Conneely earned high-flying Accrington a 1-0 win and kept luckless Forest Green rooted to the bottom of Sky Bet League Two.

Conneely's first goal of the season cannoned in off both posts in the 61st minute to keep John Coleman's side in the top three and make it just one win in 11 games for Mark Cooper's Rovers.

Forest Green started the match on the front foot against a Stanley side hamstrung by the injury absence of leading scorer Kayden Jackson.

Cooper chose to go without captain Liam Noble, but was boosted by the return of Charlie Cooper following a one-game suspension. Reece Brown came out of the cold to start in midfield. Meanwhile, Manny Monthe was missing after fracturing his jaw in training on Friday.

Rovers started brightly – moving the ball with confidence. Omar Bugiel was a boot from giving his side an early lead, but last-gasp defending from Jordan Thorniley nullified his intent.

The season remains in its infancy, but it was bottom of the table Rovers, who were taking the game to their third-placed rivals – Christian Doidge planting a header over the bar from a Dale Bennett cross and moments later Dan Wishart skewed wide.

Stanley were pinned backed, but broke from Rovers’ shackles to see Farrend Rowson’s header comfortably dealt with by Sam Russell and then the robust Jonny Edwards spanked one wide.

Rovers were knocking at the Stanley door. Wishart found space, with Doidge and Bugiel a toe-end from getting scoring touches on the ball.

Wishart fizzed an early second-half free-kick over as Rovers opened with vigour.

For all of Rovers’ dominance, they were stung on 61 minutes. Conneely let fly from the edge of the box and his strike went in off the post with Russell rooted to his line.

Rovers almost snatched an 81st-minute equaliser - Drissa Traore smashing a strike against the crossbar.

Forest Green: Russell, Bennett, Collins, Roberts, Wishart (Laird 70), Traore, Cooper, Brown (Stevens 73), Osbourne, Bugiel (James 61), Doidge.

Subs not used: B Collins, Randall, Fitzwater, Mullings.

Attendance: 2,594.

Star Man: Lee Collins. Rovers’ new captain put in a dominant display at the back.