Ravens View of Brighton v Forest Green Rovers

Last updated : 14 October 2003 By Mark R
We arrived about 7.35 and I waited to give a mate a ticket, but he had already been given one free, and offered several others. I was surprised at the size of the crowd, we guessed at 4,000 and there were probably just under 100 Forest Green fans, and they had one who was noisier than the Taxman.

The crowd as expected was very quiet, the only real singing was from Forest Green and fair play to them.

Kuipers once again made a couple of superb saves, the one in the 89 minute was brilliant (and also prevented silver goal extra time!). He also saved well from ex league play Gary Owers, low down from a free kick.

Knight opened the scoring after knocking in a McPhee cross. McPhee once again chased almost a lost cause, managed to win the ball back and put in a cross ball that a player like Knight thrives on.

Forest Green had a couple of good chances, we didn't have many. Rehman put one wide when well placed, but finally just after Kuipers great save, Nathan Jones broke free on the left, he probably could have scored but he side footed the ball across the 5 yard box and Jake Robinson, the Denton Destroyer, netted a simple goal (youngest ever apparently 16 years 355 days).

He had shown several good touches before this and certainly didn't looked worried by playing against much bigger, stronger & older players.

Ratings

Kuipers - 8 (2 great saves)
Mayo - 5 gave away the ball far too often
Watson - 5 looked very rusty
Pethick - 6 solid
Butters - 6 solid, but have now come to expect that of him, what a difference to last season
Rehman - 6 solid
Carpenter - 5 got booked in the first minute, but continued to put the hard tackles in
Jones - 5 set up the goal, but still gave away the ball needlessly
McPhee - 6 battled hard and set up yet another goal
Knight - 6 scored and ran hard when needed
Hart - 5 lack of the ball again, not his fault

Subs

Robinson (for Knight) - 7 good home debut
Harding (for Jones) - 5 only came on in the 90th minute
Not used :-
Piercy, Flitney, Hinshelwood

BTW Denton is just the other side of Newhaven. I think its Denton
roundabout near the big Sainsburys. I have played cricket against Denton,
but that was about 15 years ago!