Forest Green Rovers 2 Harrogate Town 1: Advertiser player ratings

Here's an assessment of how Simon Weaver's men performed at the New Lawn.

James Belshaw 6 - Dealt with a number of difficult deliveries into his penalty area, but wasn’t able to prevent either of Forest Green’s two shots finding the net. Beaten too easily at his near post for the hosts' opener.

Ryan Fallowfield 7 - ADVERTISER STAR MAN. Was always an outlet down the right hand side for Town and sent some good crosses into the home box on what was his 150th appearance for the club.

Will Smith 7 - Another solid defensive performance against a dangerous Forest Green front-three. Made one typically brave block to thwart Aaron Collins in the first period.

Warren Burrell 6 - Was given the chance to continue his partnership with Smith at heart of Weaver's defence, though wasn’t quite at the level he has performed at during recent wins.

Dan Jones 6 - Had a couple of efforts off target that he might feel he could have done better with. Wasn’t able to get the usual purchase on his long throw-ins due to lack of room at the side of the pitch, though did send over a couple of useful crosses.

George Thomson 7 - Started on the right but moved into the middle when Kiernan was introduced. Threatened with a couple of long shots and claimed an assist with a back-post delivery which was converted by Jay Williams

Josh Falkingham 6 - An energetic display from the Harrogate skipper, who got about the pitch and hassled the opposition to good effect. Could perhaps have done more to prevent the hosts’ second goal, however.

Ed Francis 6 - Not the happiest of returns to the side in central midfield for the ex-Manchester City man. Unable to make his mark on the game and his passing was not up to his usual standard.

Josh McPake 6 - Didn’t have a great impact on the match at all and was perhaps guilty of spurning Town’s best opportunity. Also, like Falkingham, could possibly have stuck tighter to Kane Wilson in the build-up to Rovers' second goal.

Mark Beck 6 - Wasn’t given much to feed off and often found himself harshly penalised by referee Christopher Pollard before he was replaced by Aaron Martin.

Jack Muldoon 6 - A few bright moments on the ball, but Harrogate's top-scorer didn’t have too many opportunities to make his mark on the contest.

Substitutes:

Connor Hall (on for Burrell, 56) 7 - Showed Town what they had been missing when he took the place of Burrell, dominating from the back and causing the hosts some problems with his cross-field passing.

Brendan Kiernan (on for Francis, 56) 6 - A couple of bright moments after replacing Francis. Ran at his marker and delivered some decent crosses. Combined well down the right with Fallowfield

Aaron Martin (on for Beck, 56) 6 - Won a few aerial challenges having replaced Beck and chased after every lost cause. Was also in the mix for Town’s consolation goal.

Jay Williams (on for Falkingham, 80) 7 - Might have raised a few eyebrows when he took Falkingham’s place in midfield with 10 minutes to go, but was in the right place at the right time to hand the visitors a glimmer of hope as he claimed his first senior goal.