Forest Green Rovers 0 Carlisle United 3

Last updated : 21 August 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Extremely worrying times is an understatement for Forest Green Rovers and for the third time in three games they didn't deserve to take anything out from the match such was the performance.

Carlisle came out of the blocks quicker and took the game by the scruff of the neck with Forest Green's only chance of the first half coming after 11 minutes when Alex Sykes' pass found its way to Jon Holloway, calmly but tamely he sidefooted the ball wide of the right-hand post.

The visitors scored the first goal and they did so after 20 minutes. Andy Preece broke from the halfway line in open space and when none of the Forest Green players took responsibility for closing him down, Preece accepted the invitation and his 35-yard effort flew into the right-hand corner of the net via the reflection.

Rovers improved slightly as they went on, but the second half proved as bad as the first.

Charlie Griffin had a half chance cleared of the line, but Carlisle never looked in danger of losing their grip on the three points and they wrapped the game up 16 minutes from time when Peter Murphy broke down the left-hand side in acres of space and unleashed a shot.

Jon Richardson blocked but in came Magno Vieira to slot the rebound into the net.

Rovers' misery was complete six minutes from time. Again dreadful marking from the home side allowed to Murphy to fire the ball into the net for the goal that he deserved.