When Forest Green Rovers face Newport County on Tuesday evening it will be their fifth play-off appearance in six years. Sadly for the Rovers, the play-offs have not been too kind for them in previous years with just one victorious campaign.
Here is how they’ve fared in their recent play-off fixtures:
2015 – Lost to Bristol Rovers in National League semi-final
Forest Green sealed a play-off place on the last game of the season to finish 5th in the National League and set up a clash with Bristol Rovers in their play off semi-final. A 1-0 at defeat at The New Lawn due to a Matty Taylor strike for Bristol Rovers made it a uphill battle for the return leg at The Memorial Stadium and was not one Ady Pennock’s men could overturn losing 2-0 due to strikes from Taylor and Chris Lines.
2016 – Lost to Grimsby in National League Final
Rovers were able to go one better a year later by beating Dover 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-final. A Brett Williams goal gave Rovers a 1-0 win at Crabble Road and they managed to hold on in the second leg drawing 1-1 with Keanu Marsh-Brown scoring the key equalising goal to send Forest Green to Wembley. The Rovers came up against Grimsby Town in the final but could not get the job done losing 3-1 to two Omar Bogle goals and a Nathan Arnold strike with Marsh-Brown managing to grab a consolation goal on a disappointing day for Forest Green.
2017 – Beat Tranmere in National League Final
It was third time lucky for Forest Green as they finally earnt promotion to the Football League. They faced Dagenham, and Redbridge in the semis this time and Liam Noble’s penalty was cancelled out by a Jordan Maguire-Drew equaliser. Rovers took control in the second leg though with Christian Doidge and Marsh Brown sending the Rovers once again to Wembley. Playing against second place Tranmere, Forest Green were superb with Doidge scoring between two Kaiyne Woolery strikes. Conor Jennings got a consolation for Tranmere but it did not stop Forest Green winning at Wembley and celebrating one of the best days in the clubs history.
2019 – Lost to Tranmere in semi-final
Two years after their play off success, Tranmere got their revenge on Forest Green in the League Two play off semi-finals. After losing 1-0 to a Ollie Banks strike, Joseph Mills tied up to tie for Forest Green but an Oliver Norwood goal settled the game in Tranmere’s favour on their way to earning promotion to League One.
Rovers will be hoping for another successful trip to Wembley on the 31st May but there is plenty of work to do before then with the first leg against Newport starting on Tuesday
