FOREST GREEN ROVERS 0 HEREFORD UNITED 1
THE spark shows no sign of returning to Forest Green's ranks as their play-off ambitions were extinguished in dispiriting fashion.
Hereford are no more than willing and workmanlike, but Rodney McDonald's 57th minute goal saw them usurp Rovers in sixth place in the Blue Square Bet Premier.
It was an all too familiar story for Dave Hockaday's toothless troops, who must almost be wishing the season had already finished.
Hockaday kept faith with all but one of the starters from Saturday's first-half debacle at Tamworth, Jamie Turley replacing Dale Bennett in central defence.
The other team change was enforced, with fit-again Wes Burns deputising for the suspended James Norwood, and the on-loan Bristol City teenager provided an early cross for Paul Green to send a deflected shot fractionally beyond Yan Klukowski's reach.
Hereford looked like grabbing a tenth minute lead when Ryan Bowman latched onto Chris Sharp's brilliant slide-rule pass, but the striker's shot crashed against the crossbar.
Within seconds there was another scare for the hosts, Sam Clucas' drive bringing a fingertip save from Sam Russell.
There was a familiar face in the Bulls' goal in the shape of ex-Rovers favourite James Bittner, and he was called upon to block a near-post effort from Klukowski on 13 minutes.
Klukowski curled a free-kick narrowly over before Reece Connolly fired straight at Bittner, and it seemed Hockaday's men were beginning to rediscover their confidence.
But they could only muster one further meaningful attempt before the break, Klukowski getting a glancing header to Jared Hodgkiss' cross and seeing it land on the roof of Bittner's net.
A wildly wayward effort by Green at the start of the second half did little to ease the growing frustration inside the New Lawn.
Hereford were offering only a sporadic threat at the other end, although Josh O'Keefe came within millimetres of connecting with an inswinging free-kick by Chris Bush.
A minute later they were ahead, as central defender McDonald was left criminally free from Clucas' corner to the far post and volleyed emphatically past a helpless Russell.
Clucas sent a deflected shot wide of the near post from their next attack, doubtless sensing the growing edginess in the home side's play and discontent on the terraces.
Klukowski saw a snap-shot cannon off a defender with Bittner scrambling as Forest Green tried to rouse themselves, yet still they looked laboured and lacking in inspiration in the final third.
The Bulls looked more likely to add to their tally, and Russell had to be alert to help over Clucas' cross-shot before Al Bangura hacked another free header by McDonald off the line from the resulting corner.
Rovers substitute Magno Vieira finally tested Bittner again with an angled effort, which was parried invitingly into the path of Connolly for a shot that was blocked by Luke Graham.
A mix-up in front of Russell almost gifted the visitors a second goal late on, but Bowman could only blast into the side-netting with the angle against him.
And Sharp fluffed a far simpler chance in stoppage time, bending one wide of the far post with only Russell to beat.
Forest Green: S. Russell; J. Hodgkiss, J. Turley, E. Oshodi, C. Stokes; P. Green (J. Collins 76), A. Bangura, K. Forbes; Y. Klukowski (Y. Odubade 72), R. Connolly, W. Burns (M. Vieira 59); Subs not used: E. Asafu-Adjaye, M. Bulman.
Hereford United: J. Bittner; J. Connor, L. Graham, R. McDonald, C. Bush; M. Watkins, K. James, J. O'Keefe, S. Clucas; C. Sharp, R. Bowman; Subs not used: A. Gallinagh, J. Heath, S. Stam, B. Smikle, M. Jackson.
Referee: G. Horwood (Beds)
Attendance: 1,142
Star man: Chris Stokes
THE spark shows no sign of returning to Forest Green's ranks as their play-off ambitions were extinguished in dispiriting fashion.
Hereford are no more than willing and workmanlike, but Rodney McDonald's 57th minute goal saw them usurp Rovers in sixth place in the Blue Square Bet Premier.
It was an all too familiar story for Dave Hockaday's toothless troops, who must almost be wishing the season had already finished.
Hockaday kept faith with all but one of the starters from Saturday's first-half debacle at Tamworth, Jamie Turley replacing Dale Bennett in central defence.
The other team change was enforced, with fit-again Wes Burns deputising for the suspended James Norwood, and the on-loan Bristol City teenager provided an early cross for Paul Green to send a deflected shot fractionally beyond Yan Klukowski's reach.
Hereford looked like grabbing a tenth minute lead when Ryan Bowman latched onto Chris Sharp's brilliant slide-rule pass, but the striker's shot crashed against the crossbar.
Within seconds there was another scare for the hosts, Sam Clucas' drive bringing a fingertip save from Sam Russell.
There was a familiar face in the Bulls' goal in the shape of ex-Rovers favourite James Bittner, and he was called upon to block a near-post effort from Klukowski on 13 minutes.
Klukowski curled a free-kick narrowly over before Reece Connolly fired straight at Bittner, and it seemed Hockaday's men were beginning to rediscover their confidence.
But they could only muster one further meaningful attempt before the break, Klukowski getting a glancing header to Jared Hodgkiss' cross and seeing it land on the roof of Bittner's net.
A wildly wayward effort by Green at the start of the second half did little to ease the growing frustration inside the New Lawn.
Hereford were offering only a sporadic threat at the other end, although Josh O'Keefe came within millimetres of connecting with an inswinging free-kick by Chris Bush.
A minute later they were ahead, as central defender McDonald was left criminally free from Clucas' corner to the far post and volleyed emphatically past a helpless Russell.
Clucas sent a deflected shot wide of the near post from their next attack, doubtless sensing the growing edginess in the home side's play and discontent on the terraces.
Klukowski saw a snap-shot cannon off a defender with Bittner scrambling as Forest Green tried to rouse themselves, yet still they looked laboured and lacking in inspiration in the final third.
The Bulls looked more likely to add to their tally, and Russell had to be alert to help over Clucas' cross-shot before Al Bangura hacked another free header by McDonald off the line from the resulting corner.
Rovers substitute Magno Vieira finally tested Bittner again with an angled effort, which was parried invitingly into the path of Connolly for a shot that was blocked by Luke Graham.
A mix-up in front of Russell almost gifted the visitors a second goal late on, but Bowman could only blast into the side-netting with the angle against him.
And Sharp fluffed a far simpler chance in stoppage time, bending one wide of the far post with only Russell to beat.
Forest Green: S. Russell; J. Hodgkiss, J. Turley, E. Oshodi, C. Stokes; P. Green (J. Collins 76), A. Bangura, K. Forbes; Y. Klukowski (Y. Odubade 72), R. Connolly, W. Burns (M. Vieira 59); Subs not used: E. Asafu-Adjaye, M. Bulman.
Hereford United: J. Bittner; J. Connor, L. Graham, R. McDonald, C. Bush; M. Watkins, K. James, J. O'Keefe, S. Clucas; C. Sharp, R. Bowman; Subs not used: A. Gallinagh, J. Heath, S. Stam, B. Smikle, M. Jackson.
Referee: G. Horwood (Beds)
Attendance: 1,142
Star man: Chris Stokes