Field beat Forest Green Rovers 2:0 at Mill Farm in the fourth round of the National League's regular season on Thursday evening. The hosts took all three points with both goals coming from H. Broad in the second half. The result lifts them to sixth place on ten points from five matches.
And here's the thing about that opening goal — Broad finally broke through in the 65th minute after a period of sustained pressure. Field had 69 per cent possession and 137 attacks to Forest Green's 76. The visitors managed only one shot on target all evening. By then it was clear who was dictating the tempo.
Four minutes later came the second. Broad found space again and finished clinically to make it 2:0. Forest Green had already seen J. Berry brought off in the 48th minute, and the substitution of N. Haughton and R. Rees for the hosts in the 63rd minute had shifted something. Field were playing the second half a man up, even if it was only in spirit rather than numbers.
The statistics tell the story without embellishment. Four shots on target for four for Field, one for the visitors. Shots accuracy sat at half for the hosts and barely a tenth for Forest Green. Two yellow cards went to each side, with T. Campbell and T. Upton booked for the visitors while S. Agina and L. Thomas saw gold for Field.
To be fair, Forest Green have not been in the doldrums. They beat Bristol City 3:2 away on the last matchday of August and took three points from Worthing and Halifax too. But they sit 16th with six points and three defeats. The loss to Boreham Wood 0:3 on their last outing was telling.
Field's form has been more up and down. They lost 2:3 to Woking and 0:2 to Rylands, but beat Tamworth and drew twice. The win at home keeps them in the upper half. The gap to the teams above them remains to be seen, but this was a professional performance that took advantage of limited chances.
