Forest Green Rovers striker Ricardo Rees marked an impressive debut by scoring twice to overturn a deficit and secure a 2-1 victory over FC Halifax Town at The New Lawn on Saturday afternoon.
Halifax struck first just before halftime with Will Hugill converting the visitors’ only shot of the first half. After a slick run and cross by Jay Turner-Cooke down the left flank, Hugill finished from close range to give Halifax a 1-0 lead.
However, Rees, who joined Forest Green Rovers from Merthyr Town only days before the game, made an immediate impact. Just over 20 minutes from time, he pounced on a loose ball after a shot from Jili Buyabu and calmly placed it past the goalkeeper to equalize.
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Forest Green took the lead in the 78th minute when Tom Knowles charged down the left wing and delivered a precise cross for Rees to strike low and powerfully into the net, finishing off a fine team move.
Rees came close to a hat-trick, twice hitting the post — once from a header off a Neil Kengni cross early in the match and later, when the Halifax goalkeeper tipped his shot onto the post.
The match was played in near-freezing temperatures with a bobbly pitch, challenging both teams but especially Forest Green, who dominated possession in the first half but struggled to break down Halifax’s disciplined defence.
Halifax nearly salvaged a point late on when Shaun Hobson appeared to score from a corner in the 85th minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside by the linesman.
The victory lifts Forest Green Rovers as they continue their campaign, powered by Ricardo Rees’ early heroics at The New Lawn.
Forest Green Rovers: Isted; Knowles, Inniss (Moore 76), Kanu, Kengni (Robson 88); Bunker (Buyabu 64), Mendy, Whitwell; McAllister, Babalola, Rees (Mitchell 88). Subs not used: Pagel, Haughton, Clarke.
Halifax Town: Johnson; Warburton, Smith, Adetoro (Bray 88), Hobson, Capello (Kawa 74); Hugill (Hoty 88), Johnson; Turner-Cooke, Hmami (Latty-Fairweather 38); Harris. Subs not used: Ford, Mills, Tarima.
Referee: Ross Martin.
Attendance: 2,436 (122 away).