Rigg's goal not enough to give Forest Green victory

Barrow 1 Forest Green Rovers 1: Sean Rigg's 62nd-minute strike was not enough to earn Forest Green Rovers their first win of the season in an end-to-end battle at Holker Street.

After taking the lead in the second half, Rovers allowed the home side back into the game just four minutes later, when Jon Shaw bagged his first Barrow goal.

In a very open contest, both sides were guilty of spurning clear-cut chances.

Rigg – making a return to the ground where he was infamously assaulted by former Barrow player James Cotterill in an FA Cup game in 2006 while playing for parent club Bristol Rovers – ensured that he left on happier terms on this occasion.

A great cross from Steve Davies picked out the advancing forward in the box and, although his initial shot was well saved by Tim Deasy in the Barrow goal, he made no mistake with the rebound, rifling it into the rood of the net to give Rovers the lead.

But shortly afterwards, some slack defending allowed Shaw to beat the offside trap and coolly slot the ball underneath advancing goalkeeper David Wilkinson to level the scores.

Rovers' best spell of the game came towards the end of the first half when Rigg cut the Barrow defence open for fun with his pace, only to fluff his shot.

Strike partner David Brown – operating effectively in the second striker role – also missed a gilt-edged chance after Rigg did well to pick him out in the box, but Deasy saved well.

Chances were limited in the second half, with long-range efforts the tactic adopted by both teams.

Brown nearly restored Rovers lead late on, but his 40-yard lob sailed high and wide.

Barrow came close to snatching a win towards the end of the game, but Rovers dug in for a point.