Grays Athletic

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Grays 2-1 Forest Green

Gary Phillips' Grays Athletic recorded a second consecutive win at the New Recreation Ground after edging past fellow strugglers Forest Green Rovers on Sunday afternoon.

The Gravelmen secured their league safety with a 1-0 win against Crawley Town last week and gave their supporters something to cheer about by ending their season on a high note.

In fact, they mounted a memorable comeback to score twice in the space of a minute after conceding a penalty in the first period.

The visitors started brightly with Adriano Rigoglioso firing narrowly wide from the edge of the area and Andrew Mangan forcing Grays goalkeeper Lee Butcher into action minutes later.

The hosts created their first real chance of the game after 15 minutes but Barry Cogan's powerful effort from inside the area was saved brilliantly by the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Terry Burton.

Forest Green were awarded a penalty in the 25th minute when Stuart Thurgood was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area, and Mangan calmly dispatched the resulting spot kick.

Grays' Jamie Slabber missed the target with an effort from 10 yards out before the break and Barry Cogan came close with two consecutive efforts after the break.

They finally got the breakthrough they were looking for in 68th minute when Stuart Thurgood made amends for his first-half handball by firing a 12-yard effort into the bottom-left corner.

The Blues doubled their tally just 50 seconds later when Slabber turned provider for Tyrone Berry, who tapped home from close range at the far post.

Grays bookings: Beavan.

Forest Green bookings: None.

Ref: S Creighton (England).

Att: 1,246.