It was a Bank Holiday Monday packed with nerves and late drama at The New Lawn, as Forest Green Rovers clinched a 1-0 win over Eastleigh thanks to a stoppage-time free-kick from Tom Knowles. The match, played on August 25, 2025, saw Forest Green retain their grip on the top spot in the Enterprise National League, leaving fans gasping for breath after a contest that hung in the balance right until the final whistle.
From the outset, both teams made their intentions clear. Forest Green, under the guidance of Robbie Savage, looked to assert their dominance early, while Eastleigh arrived determined to spoil the party for the league leaders. The first real chance of the game fell to Jayden Clarke. Collecting the ball on the edge of the box, Clarke struck low, but Eastleigh’s goalkeeper Nick Townsend was alert, diving down to push the effort away and denying the hosts an early breakthrough.
Eastleigh responded with purpose. Their best opportunity of the first half came when Kieron Evans, after a slick move down the right flank, found himself with a sight of goal. Evans let fly, but Forest Green’s Luke McNicholas produced a sharp save, keeping the scores level and ensuring the tension inside The New Lawn remained high.
Midway through the first half, a moment of confusion in the Eastleigh box nearly gifted Forest Green the opener. The visitors conceded an indirect free-kick from just six yards out after a defensive mishap. Nick Haughton stepped up for the Rovers, but Eastleigh’s defense scrambled to recover, blocking the shot and conceding only a corner. The chance went begging, but the warning signs were there for Eastleigh.
As the first half ticked towards its conclusion, Forest Green continued to press. Neil Kengni floated a teasing cross to the back post, finding Kyle McAllister in space. McAllister met the ball on the volley, but his effort sailed just over the crossbar, prompting groans from the home crowd and a sigh of relief from the Eastleigh bench. The teams headed into the break with the scoreline still locked at 0-0, both sets of supporters sensing that a single moment of quality could decide the contest.
The second half saw Forest Green introduce Yahya Bamba, a move that injected new energy into the Rovers’ attack. Bamba wasted no time making his presence felt. He looked to tee up Mitchell soon after the restart, but Eastleigh’s defenders recovered in time to snuff out the danger. Bamba remained at the heart of the action, orchestrating another promising move when he crossed for Harry Whitwell to slide home, only for a last-ditch interception to deny the hosts once more.
The home side’s persistence nearly paid off in the 66th minute. Tre Pemberton’s cross found Whitwell, who hooked a shot towards goal, but the ball drifted agonizingly past the post. The introduction of Ryan Inniss added further physicality to Forest Green’s approach. Inniss, making an impact almost immediately, nodded the ball down for Bamba, whose strike was deflected behind for a corner as the Rovers continued to pile on the pressure.
Eastleigh, for their part, refused to roll over. They remained resolute at the back, with Townsend marshalling his defense and making crucial interventions. The visitors made a series of substitutions in an attempt to stem the tide and perhaps nick a late goal on the counter, but Forest Green’s back line, anchored by McNicholas, held firm.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, it seemed the game was destined for a goalless draw. But football, as ever, had other ideas. In the fourth minute of added time, Forest Green won a free-kick from around 25 yards out. The responsibility fell to Tom Knowles, who had entered the fray in the 54th minute. The tension was palpable as Knowles lined up his shot. With a sweet strike, he bent the ball around the wall and into the bottom corner, sending the home fans into raptures and securing a dramatic victory for the Rovers.
"We weren’t to be denied a late winner as Knowles struck a free-kick from the best part of 25 yards into the bottom corner," reported the club’s official match account, capturing the sheer emotion of the moment. The goal not only delivered three precious points but also ensured Forest Green’s stay at the summit of the National League for at least another week.
The final whistle was met with jubilation from the 2,203 fans in attendance, including 128 hardy Eastleigh supporters who made the trip. The Forest Green lineup featured McNicholas in goal, with Kengni, Pemberton, Moore-Taylor, Kanu, Moore, Mendy, Clarke, Haughton, McAllister, and Mitchell all starting. Substitutions played a pivotal role, with Whitwell, Bamba, Knowles, Cardwell, and Inniss all coming on to influence proceedings. The depth and flexibility of the Rovers’ squad proved crucial in a match where patience and persistence were eventually rewarded.
Eastleigh’s lineup included Townsend between the sticks, supported by Brindley, Fernandez, Eweka, Evans, Taylor, Blair, Pierre, Wariuh, Cousins, and Harris. They made several changes throughout, bringing on Holzman, Lundstram, Davis, Underhill, and Ingram in search of a breakthrough that never quite materialized.
For Forest Green, the victory was about more than just three points. It was a statement of intent from a side determined to maintain their position at the top of the table. The resilience shown in grinding out a result, even when the breakthrough appeared elusive, will give Robbie Savage and his players immense confidence heading into the next round of fixtures.
Eastleigh, meanwhile, will take heart from a disciplined defensive display and the fact that they pushed the league leaders all the way. On another day, with a bit more luck in front of goal, they might have left The New Lawn with a share of the spoils.
As the dust settles on a pulsating Bank Holiday clash, Forest Green’s fans will savor a win that came courtesy of a moment of magic in the dying seconds. With the race for promotion heating up, every point is precious—and on this occasion, the Rovers proved they have the nerve and the quality to deliver when it matters most.
