Manager Tom Sage and his players suffered last minute heartbreak for the second weak running against league leaders Forest Green Rovers.

Last week saw a very tight game only decided after a defensive error that secured FGR all 3 points and this weeks game was just as competitive and the last minute winner will haunt Team BTC/BTFC as they had two opportunities to clear the ball out of their penalty area.

Nonetheless, the development of all of the players in Sage's squad is clear and FGR probably will not have another set of tough back to back fixtures for the remainder of the season as they have done these two weeks.

Harry Hamblin opened the scoring for Team BTC/BTFC, inside the opening 10 minutes with a 25 yard rocket. Nash Eastwood worked the ball well from the left hand side and found Jordan Lovibond in the penalty area. Lovibond held it up well and laid it off to Hamblin who struck a ferocious shot past the stranded FGR keeper to the delight of the home side and spectators.

The league leaders tried to respond with their fast attacking play but the back four of Max Cattle, Kane Tucker, Reece Malcolm and Keelan Gunningham ably assisted and protected by Oli Hucker and Hamblin in midfield stemmed each attack with confidence.

The referee had a big decision to make with 30 minutes gone after Lovibond chased down a through ball from Liam Winter and the resulting tackle inside the penalty area brought appeals for a foul and penalty but the decision went against the home side to the relief of the visitors.

FGR are never to be discounted and their equaliser game through striker Gabbiadini picking the ball up in midfield and passing it out wide to find Morris whose excellent cross found Gabbiadini two yards out and he made no mistake to level the game to take both teams into half time with a goal apiece.

The second half saw Liam Gilbert replace Winter and he immediately found himself in front of goal with only the keeper to beat but his touch took him too wide with the goal at his mercy.

FGR thought they had taken the lead after 70 minutes as a free kick was prodded in from close range but the goal was ruled offside. This reinvigorated Team BTC/BTFC and Eastwood went close with a good strike from outside the box and the lively Gilbert broke free and had Scott Peters in support but couldn't get the ball out of his feet to release the lightening quick Peters who was bearing down on goal.

The game was heading for a hard fought draw for both teams as both defences were on top but with a minute remaining FGR found space on the right hand side and their substitute right back dribbled the ball into the box and eluded three challenges that should have cleared the ball away and squeezed the ball past the furious home keeper Harrison Buller and maintain FGR at the top of the league.

Tom Sage, manager of Team BTC/BTFC said,

“This result was hard to take as we had pushed FGR all the way, but both fixtures against the current title holders over the last two weeks has shown how far the players have developed individually and collectively and bodes really well for the remaining fixtures of the season.”