Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Bristol Rovers
- Published
Ten-man Forest Green gained the West Country derby day bragging rights over Bristol Rovers as a Jamille Matt double extended their lead at the top of League Two to six points.
Matt opened the scoring in the first half and added a second from the penalty spot late on despite Udoka Godwin-Malife's red card reducing the hosts to 10 men just after the hour.
Forest Green bossed the game from the start and finally unlocked Rovers as Ben Stevenson's pass released the scampering Matt, who ran through to plant the ball under James Belshaw.
Matty Stevens then nodded onto the bar from a Stevenson cross as Forest Green turned up the heat.
Rovers started the second half with intent and were given hope when Godwin-Malife received a second yellow for a push on Harry Anderson.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, it was Belshaw who denied Jack Aitchison a third for the hosts, getting across to block.
Matt bagged his second of the day and 10th of the season from the spot with 13 minutes left, drilling beyond Belshaw after Antony Evans was adjudged to have handled Ebou Adams' strike.
Match report supplied by PA Media.