FOREST GREEN'S hitherto splendid Conference campaign turned sour on Saturday when they suffered their first defeat of the season.

However, Forest Green boss Gary Owers took some spositives from the defeat.

He said: "We were very good in the last half-hour, but it's disapointing that we had to wait until we were two down before we started to play.

"I don't think we did well out of decisions. Their first came from a contentious free-kick. When they scored their second, the flag stayed down."

Earlier, Forest Green had the first chance of the game on 13 minutes when Scott Rendell capitalised on an error by Gary Talbot to win possession 35 yards out, but his speculative lob went over the bar.

The Robins took the lead on 21 minutes after a well-worked set piece 30 yards from goal.

Colin Potts took the free-kick short to Colin Little and the striker turned sharply and played strike partner Gary Williams in behind Rovers defence.

But it was Damon Searle challenging Williams 10 yards from goal and diverting the ball past Ryan Clarke, who could do nothing as the ball rolled slowly into the corner of the net.

Rovers managed to put the ball in the net just before half time when Adam Garner headed home a Searle free-kick but the linesman's flag was quickly up to signal an offside.

The second half started perfectly for the Robins when they doubled their lead only three minutes in after a move started and finished by Colin Potts.

An incisive pass from the winger found Little in space on the right flank and he then bundled the ball home at the second attempt after Clarke had saved his initial header from Little's cross.

Rovers reacted well to this setback and began to heap pressure on Alty after bringing on former Norwich striker Zema Abbey and Lewis Haldane to give them more firepower up front.

Former Oxford United midfielder Paul Wanless almost caught out Coburn with a long range effort after the goalkeeper had unconvincingly punched clear.

With 20 minutes to play Val Owen gifted Rovers a way back into the game when a clumsy challenge on Haldane in the area gave them a penalty and Wanless made no mistake from the spot, sending Stuart Coburn the wrong way after a stuttering run up to make it 2-1.

The final ten minutes proved to be particularly nervy for the home fans when Scott Rendell put the ball in the net for Rovers only for the linesman's flag to go up once more for offside.