Jittery Forest Green lose out again - this time to Wrexham

Forest Green Rovers 0 Wrexham 2

Six games, six defeats, and Forest Green are beginning to make even ordinary sides look like world-beaters.

Two goals in four first-half minutes from Wes Baynes were enough for an unimpressive Wrexham outfit, who chose to play a containing game at the home of the Blue Square Premier's current whipping boys.

Similar tactics have backfired more than once for caretaker Rovers boss David Brown this season, making this latest kick in the teeth all the more painful.

Brittle confidence in both camps manifested itself in some jittery defending, typified in the 13th minute when Wrexham's Curtis Obeng needlessly felled Paul Stonehouse in the left channel. The resulting free-kick from Ross Stearn was only partially cleared to Steve Adams, who saw a 20-yard strike whistle narrowly over.

Forest Green's Terry Burton was the first goalkeeper called into serious action, plunging low to keep out Frank Sinclair's stabbed shot.

He managed to get a hand to the free-kick from which the visitors went ahead in the 29th minute, but Baynes' deflected scorcher from 20 yards was smashed with such ferocity that the top corner was its inevitable destination.

The home defending for Baynes' second was truly awful, as Mark Jones' long punt was allowed to drop for the striker to finish clinically in the bottom corner.

From that point the Dragons took complete command, and they had the ball in the net again just after the hour mark. Rovers made a hash of dealing with Baynes' low free-kick and Marc Williams saw his shot blocked by Burton before controlling the rebound with his hand.

Eagle-eyed referee Kevin Johnson spotted the offence and cut short the celebrations of Mansour Assoumani, who had bundled the ball over the line.

Forest Green finally threatened again on 67 minutes, Curtis McDonald volleying wide after getting on the end of Jon Challinor's cross.

Three minutes later, Challinor mustered his side's first shot on target, driving the ball straight at keeper Chris Maxwell from 25 yards. Maxwell had to work harder to keep out substitute Conal Platt's free-kick with an outstretched palm, while only a fantastic block from Lee Ayres at the other end denied Baynes a hat-trick.

There was almost a glorious consolation for Brown's men in stoppage time when the tireless Stonehouse produced a curler, only for Maxwell to fling himself spectacularly to his right and keep it out

Forest Green: T. Burton; M. Preece, L. Ayres, M. Ellis, C. McDonald; R. Stearn (C. Platt 62), J. Challinor, S. Adams (P. Lloyd 65), P. Stonehouse; D. Brown (S. Davies 75); S. Rigg; Subs not used: B. Pugh, T. Pass.

Wrexham: C. Maxwell; M. Assoumani, F. Sinclair, A. Westwood; C. Obeng, M. Jones, H. Taboubi (C. Smith 76), N. Fairhurst, N. Taylor; Marc Williams (A. Cieslewicz 75), W. Baynes; Subs not used: Mike Williams, G. Taylor, S. Spann.