Forest Green Rovers concluded their preparations ahead of the 2022/23 League One campaign, signing off with a hard fought 1-1 draw against Newport County at the Bolt New Lawn.

Captain Jamille Matt would open the scoring for Rovers from the spot in the 47th minute, only for Offrande Zanzala to head home in the 59th minute and earn County a draw in Nailsworth.

Rovers started the game brightly, with Jamille Matt and David Davis linking up well in the opening exchanges, as the ball dropped towards Armani Little, who forced Newport ‘keeper Joe Day into an early stop.

Just ten minutes into the game, Newport would go close to breaking the deadlock. Ex-Cardiff City midfielder Sam Bowen found Cameron Norman with a perfectly weighted corner, but the defender’s header ended up wide of the post.

Rovers would continue to cause problems for the visitors, with Corey O’Keeffe and Kyle McAllister enjoying a lot of success down the flanks.

Ian Burchnall’s side would come closest to finding the first goal in the 24th minute. Corey O’Keeffe found finding Davis in space, who turned superbly – firing a left-footed curling effort towards goal to only be denied by a brilliant stop from Day.

There wouldn’t be much to separate the sides for the remainder of the half, as both teams went into the break level, with neither side able to find an opener.

It would be a perfect start to the second half for Rovers, breaking the deadlock just moments after the restart. Jamille Matt would be pushed down to the ground by Declan Drysdale,

Paul Howard had no hesitations in pointing to the spot, and in the 47th minute Matt made no mistake in firing into the bottom-left corner – as he has done on so many occasions in Nailsworth last season.

Despite Rovers looking the more likely of the sides to get the next goal, Newport would grab an equalizer in the 59th minute. Offrande Zanzala headed past Rovers ‘keeper Luke McGee from a well-worked corner routine in the 59th minute.

Both sides would step up the intensity at the Bolt New Lawn but would largely have nothing to show for their efforts.

Josh March would have an effort cleared off the line in the 82nd minute, following on from a mistake by substitute keeper Townsend, allowing the ball to drop at the feet of the forward. The effort was tame though, and eventually cleared as Rovers continued their search for a winner.

Newport thought that they’d found the winning goal just moments before full-time – Adam Lewis fired past McGee, but the substitute was offside and both sides were forced to settle for a draw in Rovers’ final game of pre-season.

Forest Green: McGee, O’Keeffe, Cargill, Stevenson, Hendry (Bunker 82’), Little (Trialist 60’), Matt (C) (March 60’), Moore-Taylor (Bernard 69’), McAllister (Jones 76’), Godwin-Malife (Casey 69’), Davis (Brown 69’).

Subs not used: Bennett, Thomas.