Cambridge United are still in search of a first league win away from home since August after surrendering an early lead to draw 1-1 at Forest Green. Danny Crow opened the scoring, but Jared Hodgkiss' equaliser ensured the spoils were shared.
With Brian Saah and Paul Carden both still injured, Martin Ling made only one change as Robbie Willmott came in for the suspended Antonio Murray.
After an opening twenty minutes in which both sides created half chances for one another, United took the lead with a clinical goal. Rory McAuley's long throw from the left wing was headed out of the six yard box to Robbie Willmott, whose beautiful volleyed left footed cross was met by Danny Crow, who controlled on his chest before volleying past Danny Ireland from six yards.
On the ground where he scored his first ever goal for the club, Crow hit his tenth in the league this season and fourteenth in all competitions.
Tomi Ameobi, brother of Newcastle striker Shola, twice went close in quick succession before Simon Russell was denied his first goal for the club by a fine tip-over from Ireland, while David Partridge poked wide from the ensuing corner.
Half time came with United deserving to be in the lead, although the pace of Ameobi was enough to ensure that United did not have it all their own way.
The second half began with captain Dan Gleeson making two vital interceptions in the space of thirty seconds as the hosts attempted to break through the defence, before Danny Crow over-hit a cross when well placed.
Jared Hodgkiss fired wide having worked himself into a good position as United struggled to exert the same continuous pressure that they had in the first half. The pressure continued to mount as sub Conal Platt caused problems, firing wide twice and being denied by one outstanding Coulson block.
But The U's didn't heed the warning and the scores were level with seventeen minutes to play, Platt again central to a move which culminated with Hodgkiss arriving in the box to fire home.
Kevin Roberts came on for his United debut twelve minutes from time to replace the injured Simon Russell, while Sam Ives came on for Robbie Willmott. United were still unable to stop the flow of pressure, before Calum Willock also made his United bow to replace to tireless Lee Phillips five minutes from time.
United had the best chance of all to steal the points in stoppage time when Josh Coulson headed wide when completely unmarked from a freekick, and it was the last action as the full time whistle blow soon afterwards.
Man of the match: Dan Gleeson. With United's attacking play going off the boil after half time The U's came under some real pressure, and the stand-in captain led by example in letting very little past him in a highly solid display.
Full minute by minute account below.
Matt Ramsay
14.20 Afternoon everybody and welcome to the live coverage of this afternoon's Blue Square Premier fixture between Forest Green Rovers and Cambridge United. Today represents a real six-pointer at the bottom of the table, especially if The U's are to lose six points with Chester's expected expulsion. Team news to follow when announced.
14.35 Team News:
Forest Green Rovers: Danny Ireland; Curtis McDonald, Jared Hodgkiss, Mark Preece, Ollie Thorne; David Brown, Jonathan Smith, Craig Rocastle, Paul Stonehouse (c); Isaiah Rankin, Tomi Ameobi.
Subs: Reece Styche, Conal Platt, Daniel Powell, Mike Fowler, David Wilkinson.
Cambridge United: Simon Brown; Dan Gleeson (c), Aiden Palmer, Josh Coulson, David Partridge; Rory McAuley, Jai Reason, Robbie Willmott, Simon Russell; Danny Crow, Lee Phillips.
Subs: Mark Beesley, Sam Ives, Kevin Roberts, Calum Willock, Laurie Walker.
14.58 The sides are out, with United fans in good voice behind one goal. United are in their sky blue away kit with the hosts in black and white stripes. A minute's silence is to impeccably observed by both sets of fans for a Forest Green supporter who passed away following their Cup tie at Notts County last month.
15.04 Referee Rob Merchant gets the action underway, with Forest Green kicking off and shooting towards their own fans. Forest Green kick the ball straight out for a throw in.
15.05 Aiden Palmer delivers the first cross of the afternoon, but the ball had gone out for a throw before it was sent in. Both goalmouths look decidedly dodgy with plenty of mud.
15.08 Danny Crow nearly measures a great through ball to Simon Russell on the right but it travels just too far and goes out for a goalkick.
15.11 A wayward David Partridge header goes backwards and earns the hosts a throw near the corner flag. They work the way backwards into their own half and Jared Hodgkiss falls over, but Rovers eventually get the ball forward before Isaiah Rankin scuffs a shot.
15.15 United concede a quick brace of freekicks in their own half, but Simon Brown smothers the danger from the second of these. Rory McAuley spreads a lovely ball wide to Simon Russell before Jai Reason's attempt at a backheeled through ball is closed down.
15.18 Jai Reason goes down under the challenge of Mark Preece and insists on a penalty, but play goes on and Forest Green's break away is ended by Rory McAuley earning a booking a foul on Craig Rocastle. The freekick ends up winning a corner which is well punched out by Simon Brown.
15.22 Jai Reason nearly pokes the ball into an opening but Lee Phillips is just beaten to the ball. From the throw, Phillips knocks the ball down but Danny Crow can't reach the ball.
15.24 GOAL Forest Green 0-1 CUFC. Rory McAuley hurls a huge throw into the penalty box, the ball is headed out to Robbie Willmott. Willmott delivers a perfect left footed delivery with his first touch, and Danny Crow takes the ball down on his chest before volleying past Ireland's dive to his left.
15.32 After an extended spell of midfield yo-yoing, Curtis McDonald gets his revenge on goalscorer Crow by clattering the striker, sending him virtually head over heels. No complaints when a yellow card is brandished by referee Merchant.
15.34 Forest Green create their first real chance of the match as a low left footed delivery ends with Tomi Ameobi firing over under the close attention of David Partridge.
15.37 Ameobi goes close again, getting on the end of a second ball and firing wide from a narrow angle. A corner is given and is well headed clear, with Coulson rising imperiously to clear the second ball.
15.39 A superbly constructed break sees Phillips pull the ball back for a late-arriving Simon Russell, but the winger is denied his first United goal by a fine tip-over save by Danny Ireland. Willmott's corner is nodded back by Russell and David Partridge pokes just wide as the ball falls to him on the volley.
15.46 Forest Green have seen virtually all of the ball in the last few minutes but are denied by a few good interceptions by Palmer. Lee Phillips chases a lost cause in the corner and shows excellent skill to get past Jared Hodgkiss, who stops him by earning a booking. Ireland just about gets enough to punch Willmott's freekick away.
15.48 One minute is added on with Forest Green looking to push men forward in search of an equaliser, but United see off the danger. That's half time, Forest Green booed off by their own fans.
HALF TIME: Forest Green Rovers 0-1 Cambridge United
15.57 CRC are currently 0-0 at home to Hadleigh United in the Ridgeons League.
16.06 The teams are back out for the second half, with United now defending the goal which their fans are occupying. 205 fans have made the trip among a total attendance of 930. We're back underway.
16.09 Dan Gleeson makes a vital interception to stop David Brown threading a ball through to winger Paul Stonehouse. The ball makes its way into the middle and looks to fall for Ameobi, but Gleeson makes a second vital block in quick succession.
16.13 Simon Russell shows exceptional control to take down a long range ball on the right flank, and his lofted cross is just about dealt with under pressure from Lee Phillips.
16.14 Robbie Willmott cuts inside from the left and connects with a good effort from outside the area, but the ball is too close to Ireland and the keeper claims comfortably. Rovers move the ball to the other end, and an over-hit backpass prompts Simon Brown into an impromptu game of keepy-uppies before clearing his lines. Curtis McDonald then optimistically blasts wide from long range.
16.16 Conal Platt replaces Rovers captain Paul Stonehouse in the first change of the afternoon.
16.17 United are being gifted possession in the opposition half with a succession of wayward clearances, and The U's are trying to use the width in their efforts to add to their lead. .
16.22 Jai Reason threads a superb ball between the defence for Danny Crow to run onto, and his cross from wide is met by Robbie Willmott but he shoots too close to Ireland to cause any real problems.
16.24 Rovers cause United problems for the first time in the second half, Aiden Palmer being dragged infield and Jared Hodgkiss fires well wide from the right wing position.
16.26 Former Weymouth man Platt fires wide when well placed in a central position, and then moments later over-hits a through ball into Simon Brown's hands.
16.29 Brown is called into action as he has to beat away a fierce long range effort from Platt, and United need to stop inviting pressure onto themselves.
16.31 United don't heed the warning and Rovers should be level as Jonathan Smith finds himself free, but Josh Coulson makes a wonderful lunging challenge to deny an equaliser for the hosts. Smith hits the roof with a shot from the corner.
16.33 GOAL Forest Green 1-1 CUFC. You can't say it hasn't been coming. Jared Hodgkiss finishes the ball off when arriving late into the area after Platt pulls the ball back from the right wing, leaving Brown with no chance.
16.35 United fans yell furiously at their defence as Platt twice fires wide when given space to shoot on the edge of the area. All Forest Green at the moment. Luke Berry has given CRC the lead against Hadleigh.
16.38 Russell needs treatment after staying down in a challenge. Reece Styche comes on for Isaiah Rankinfor Forest Green.
16.40 Russell goes off, as does Robbie Willmott, and they are replaced by Sam Ives and a debut-making Kevin Roberts.
16.44 Dan Gleeson does well to shepherd the ball out for a goalkick under pressure from Platt. Jack Igglesden has put CRC 2-0 in front at The Abbey.
16.47 Lee Phillips goes off to be replaced by another United debutant in the form of Calum Willock. Four minutes left.
16.48 Eleven back for United as the hosts win a freekick inside opposition territory. They manage to clear the danger but have nobody forward to relieve the pressure.
16.51 Last minute of the ninety and United are clinging on. David Partridge commits a silly foul thirty yards out, and Conal Platt's drilled freekick evades everyone and finds the arms of Simon Brown. Another through ball almost finds Platt through, but Brown is quickly out to boot clear.
16.53 A glimmer of a chance for United as a freekick is nodded back across goal but evades both Crow and Willock. We're into stoppage time and there's been no indication of how much extra is to be played.
16.54 Josh Coulson has a great chance to win it for United but barely makes contact when meeting another freekick with a free header. That's the last action as the referee blows the full time whistle.
FULL TIME Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Cambridge United.
Matt Ramsay
