Forest Green win to climb out of relegation zone

Chester City 1 Forest Green Rovers 2: A place outside the Blue Square Premier relegation zone was Forest Green's prize for easily their finest display of the season.

Conal Platt's 18th-minute thunderbolt and a fourth goal in as many games from Sean Rigg rewarded a thoroughly dominant first-half performance, although Kevin Roberts hit back straight after the break to make the contest nervier than necessary.

Rovers' second victory in four days maintained unbeaten manager Dave Hockaday's impressive start, with a haul of nine points from a possible 15 to his name.

The visitors had the better of the early stages and it was fully merited that Platt gave them the lead in spectacular fashion as he was allowed space to surge on to Tomi Ameobi's pass and lash the ball into the far corner of the net from 25 yards out.

It was the Irish winger's first goal of the season, but he earned a yellow card for leaving the field of play when celebrating.

Rovers nearly doubled their advantage in the 29th minute, when Jonathan Smith rose highest to meet Platt's corner and headed down for Steve Davies, whose instinctive prod from close range was cleared off the line by Neil Ashton.

The visitors' dominance was growing, and another chance went begging when Platt sliced wastefully over after good work from Rigg.

Chester did not threaten until 10 minutes before half-time, when Lloyd Ellams' shot was blocked bravely by Mark Preece, and it did little to appease the frustrated Blues supporters.

They were groaning even more loudly two minutes later. Lee Ayres' long pass dropped into the path of Rigg, who cut inside his marker and finished tidily with his right foot.

Chester could only improve in the second period, and Rovers keeper Terry Burton made an acrobatic save to keep out Nick Chadwick's header but was powerless to prevent Roberts netting from the resulting corner. The right-back powered in a header from eight yards to narrow the gap, but Rovers were able to hold on for the win.

Back came Forest Green, and both Platt and Rigg were disappointed to miss the target from promising positions in the left channel.

Gregg Blundell flashed a shot narrowly wide at the other end before he was foiled by another brilliant save by Burton, who dashed off his line to win the one-on-one battle.