Forest Green Rovers 0-1 Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers forward Matty Taylor scored his 19th goal of the season

Bristol Rovers will take a narrow lead into the home leg of their Conference play-off semi-final despite ending with 10 men at Forest Green Rovers.

Rovers clinched victory after Matty Taylor rounded home keeper Steve Arnold to convert against his former club from a tight angle.

Away forward Ellis Harrison was dismissed with little under 15 minutes left for a second bookable offence.

The hosts pressed for a leveller with Charlie Clough hitting the post.

But the Pirates, who are aiming for an instant return to the Football League, held on to go into Sunday's return leg at the Memorial Ground with a slender advantage.

Forest Green boss Ady Pennock told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"Before the game we wanted to still be in the tie and we definitely are, but we can't play like we did first half.

"I think we just gave them too much respect - Steve Arnold kept us in the tie.

"I said a lot of things at half time which I had to and I haven't said for a long time, but second half was much better.

"We were in their faces more and worked harder, but we should be doing that from the start."

Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke told BBC Radio Bristol:

"I thought in the first 45 minutes we were excellent. We were a little bit unfortunate not to score a few more goals.

"We played some really good football and were on the front foot.

"It's testament to my boys that, having missed out on the title on Saturday, there was no hangover, no disappointment and no players feeling sorry for themselves.

"In the second half, as you'd expect, Forest Green came into it a bit more, though they only really started to ask questions of us when we went down to 10 men. But the boys saw it through."