Conference Forest Green Rovers 2 Hereford United 2

GUY MADJO'S sublime late Boxing Day Christmas cracker was just as much of a surprise as was his delayed arrival at The Lawn.

Madjo had earlier been ear-marked for a starting place but the on-loan Bristol City striker found himself stuck at Heathrow Airport. Despite the obstacles he eventually arrived at The Lawn at 3.25pm

And his 80th minute point-saving strike should take out some of the sting he is likely to be subjected to from Forest Green boss Gary Owers, who said: "If you're a professional footballer then you should have the responsibility to get to the ground in time. Guy knows that and he will be dealt with.

"It's obviously a big issue but I don't want to to dwell on it because that would be disrespectful to the rest of the team but it is just as well he scored today-we might have to lock him in the dressing room until the New Year's Eve game."

The pre-match disruption had failed to rattle Rovers. Buoyed by back-to-back league and cup wins, Owers' side started brightly enough.

Bruno Teixeira saw a glancing header fizz wide and then Paul Wanless watched Hereford's Craig Mawson gather his strike after Julian Alsop's flick afforded the former Oxford United midfielder the chance. Meechan strikes

It was all Rovers. The pressure paid off as Alex Meechan opened the scoring on 34 minutes. The astute head of the impressive Alsop allowed Teixeira the chance to tee-up Meechan who slipped in to plant a crisp strike across Mawson.

Ryan Harding could and possibly should have made it two five minutes later.

His skill took him away from Simon Travis but his shot was beaten away by Mawson leaving Alsop and Teixeira culpable of failing to convert the free-ball.

Hereford offered little in response but Adam Stansfield and Andy Williams went close on the cusp of the interval with Rovers' previously imperious defence creaking.

Graham Turner's side were certainly a different animal after the break. Parity was achieved on 58 minutes.

Rob Purdie's teasing free-kick saw the flat-footed Ryan Clarke beaten in the air by Tamika Mkandawire.

To his credit Clarke atoned for his error.

He superbly beat away Guy Ipoua's point-blank strike. Ipoua then turned away from the previously dominant Luke Graham to smack the top of the bar.

Nonetheless, Alex Jeannin nosed Hereford ahead with 11 minutes to go. Spotting Clarke off his line he flighted a strike over Clarke's head from 20-yards.

Rovers' response was immediate.

Alsop's header dropped into the path of Madjo, the bustling striker took the pass in his stride to fizz a stinging drive beyond Mawson with just ten minutes to go.

Forest Green: Clarke (5), Simpson (7), Richardson (7), Graham (7), Searle (7) , Meechan (7), Gadsby (6), Wanless (6), Harding (6), (Garner 6, 82), Alsop (8), Teixeira (7), (Madjo 7, 56).

Subs Not Used: Harrison, Rogers, Rendell.

Goals: Meechan 34, Mkandawire 58,Jeannin 79, Madjo 80.

Att: 1,957.

Star player: Julian Alsop.