Forest Green Rovers fell to a 2-1 defeat against FC Halifax Town at The Shaymen Stadium on Tuesday night.

Steve Cotterill named an unchanged Rovers side from Saturday’s victory over Maidenhead United.

The Shaymen started the game on the front foot testing their luck a few times inside the opening 10 minutes before taking the lead on 12 minutes through Zak Emmerson.

Rovers grew into the half and saw Jordan Garrick effort deflected into the arms of Shaymen goalkeeper, Sam Johnson three minutes later.

Garrick continued to trouble the Shaymen defence as, after a brilliant exchange with Charlie McCann, saw a drilled effort deflected past the post on 40 minutes.

From the resulting corner, Joe Quigley saw his effort strike the crossbar before Cian Harries follow up was well blocked.

The hosts almost manufactured a chance to double their lead heading into the break when Luca Thomas tried to feed though Emmerson, but Jamie Robson produced a superb tackle to deny them.

Rovers came out the better of the two sides in the second period and almost level the game on 52 minutes when Quigley met a Robson cross but could only head into Johnson’s hands.

But four minutes later, Rovers drew themselves level when Kyle McAllister drove into the box before picking out the bottom right corner for his tenth goal of the season.

It was then all Rovers who almost turned the game around on 67 minutes when McCann tried his luck from distance, but his effort whistled past the post.

But against the run of play, the Shaymen regained the lead on 69 minutes when Florent Hoti squeezed an effort past Fabian Mrozek on the angle.

Rovers hunted down an equaliser, but Robson, Christian Doidge and Liam Sercombe all saw efforts fly the wrong side of the woodwork late in the game.

Rovers will be looking to get back to winning ways when we face York City on Saturday.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Starting XI - Mrozek (GK), Inniss ©, Bunker (Cardwell 73’), Harries, Robson, Osadebe, May, McCann (Sercombe 79’), McAllister (Fleming 88’), Garrick, Quigley (Doidge 76’)

Unused subs - Tozer, Long, McCormick

Attendance: 1.143 (62 away)