Match ends, Forest Green Rovers 1, Carlisle United 1.
Forest GreenForest Green Rovers1CarlisleCarlisle United1
A virtuoso goalkeeping masterclass from Reading loanee Lewis Ward helped Forest Green earn a point against play-off rivals Carlisle.
Reece Brown's eighth goal of the season in the 31st minute gave Rovers the lead, but Nathan Thomas levelled things up three minutes after the restart.
Carlisle should have been ahead on 24 minutes when Danny Grainger's corner moved like a beach ball to leave Ward flapping, but Nathan Thomas watched his stooping header clip the crossbar.
Two minutes later Thomas breezed inside Nathan McGinley, but Ward imposed himself to produce a fine block.
Rovers served a riposte to take the lead seven minutes later as Christian Doidge played in Brown, who lashed in a sumptuous strike from the edge of the box.
Carlisle were back in the game after 49 minutes. Nathan McGinley had his pocket picked by Thomas, who finally found his shooting boots to level proceedings.
The goal knocked Rovers' confidence, but Ward came to their rescue, saving well to divert a Mike Jones stinger over and then diving across his goal to tip a Thomas strike wide.
Ward kept the game level, producing another great save to deny Regan Slater with nine minutes to go, while at the other end, Rovers substitute George Williams smashed against a post from 35 yards three minutes later.
Forest Green remain sixth on 58 points and Carlisle drop to ninth, a point behind Rovers.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Forest Green
Formation 3-5-2
- 34Ward
- 6Rawson
- 22Godwin-MalifeSubstituted forMondalat 89'minutes
- 19McGinley
- 2Shephard
- 16Gunning
- 10Brown
- 7Winchester
- 23Mills
- 26ReidSubstituted forWilliamsat 69'minutes
- 9Doidge
Substitutes
- 4James
- 8Grubb
- 11Williams
- 17Pearce
- 21McCoulsky
- 24Thomas
- 25Mondal
Carlisle
Formation 4-5-1
- 30Collin
- 2Miller
- 5Gerrard
- 6ParkesBooked at 84mins
- 3Grainger
- 10DevittSubstituted forScougallat 81'minutes
- 15Slater
- 8Jones
- 17O'Hare
- 16Thomas
- 9HopeSubstituted forSimpsonat 90+1'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Liddle
- 7Kennedy
- 18Grant
- 19Simpson
- 22Scougall
- 23Branthwaite
- 29Gray
- Referee:
- Graham Salisbury
- Attendance:
- 2,381
Match Stats
Home TeamForest GreenAway TeamCarlisle
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away22
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away11
- Corners
- Home5
- Away10
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Forest Green Rovers 1, Carlisle United 1.
Post update
Regan Slater (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Reece Brown (Forest Green Rovers).
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Attempt missed. Gavin Gunning (Forest Green Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
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Foul by Gary Miller (Carlisle United).
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George Williams (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Carlisle United. Connor Simpson replaces Hallam Hope.
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Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Farrend Rawson.
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Attempt blocked. Hallam Hope (Carlisle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt saved. Callum O'Hare (Carlisle United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Nathan Thomas (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Carl Winchester (Forest Green Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Junior Mondal replaces Udoka Godwin-Malife.
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Dayle Grubb (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Regan Slater (Carlisle United).
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George Williams (Forest Green Rovers) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
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Foul by Michael Jones (Carlisle United).
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Gavin Gunning (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. George Williams (Forest Green Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.