Forest Green Rovers will go into the final half of the season with a nine point advantage at the top of League Two after winning 2-0 against Colchester United.
Jamille Matt’s first half goal and a late sealer from Josh Marsh proved to be enough for the Rovers on Tuesday night, as they bounced back following a disappointing draw against Exeter City last week.
The result extends the Green Devils’ unbeaten run in the league to 13 matches, stretching back to early October.
They also have a game in hand over second-placed Tranmere Rovers, who could only manage a 1-1 draw in their match against Salford City on Tuesday night.
“It was a hard fought game,” Edwards told Rovers’ social media channel, “you have to earn everything you get in football, and they [Colchester] certainly made it difficult for us.
“I could breath a lot easier when we scored that second goal late on!”
On the quarter-hour mark, Matt scored his 15th league goal of what’s turning out to be a dream season for the 32-year-old, one shy of his entire tally from last year.
In the second half, Colchester ‘keeper Jake Turner had to make saves from a header from Mathew Stevens and a deflected effort from Nicky Cadden.
Matt thought he had sealed the game for Rovers but was denied by an offside flag, setting up a nervy finish as Colchester pushed for an equaliser.
Heroic defending on the line from Jordan Moore-Taylor prevented a leveller as the game entered stoppage time, before Marsh was able to score his second goal in three games, to wrap up the three points for Rovers.
Forest Green Rovers: McGee, Wilson, Bernard, Stevenson, Stevens (Marsh, 87′), Aitchison (Young, 80′), Cadden, Matt (C), Moore-Taylor, Hendry (Sweeney, 80′), Godwin-Malife
Unused: Thomas, Cargill, Edwards, Diallo
Goals: Matt (15′), Marsh (90′)
Yellow cards: Stevenson
Next match:
The Green Devils travel to third-placed Northampton, on Saturday, January 15 (3pm).
