Forest Green Rovers claimed a narrow victory over Hornchurch at Hornchurch Stadium on Saturday, winning 1-0 in their National League Regular Season - 6 fixture. The result leaves the visitors third in the table with nine points from six games, while the hosts drop to fourth after collecting twelve points from their opening campaign.
R. Rees opened the scoring in the eighth minute, giving the away side an early advantage that they maintained throughout. H. Hearn collected two yellow cards before being substituted in the twenty-fifth minute, while J. Walker also went to the referee's book in the thirtieth. The early bookings set a physical tone that the match continued to display.
Both managers made changes as the game progressed, with Forest Green bringing on M. Bracking in the sixty-ninth minute and Hornchurch responding with several substitutions in the closing stages. R. Rees himself was replaced in the seventy-eighth minute, and the match saw nine substitutions in total across both sides.
Hornchurch dominated possession at 54 per cent and registered more attacks overall, but Forest Green proved more clinical in front of goal. The visitors drew 46 per cent of the possession but achieved a higher shot accuracy of 36 per cent, converting four shots on target into their solitary goal.
The result extends Hornchurch's recent form of mixed results, having won three of their previous five matches including victories against Boston United and Woking. Forest Green's away record remains uneven after this win, following defeats to Altrincham, Field, and Boreham Wood earlier this month.
