FOREST GREEN ROVERS 1 STOCKPORT COUNTY 1

BATTERED and bruised by the end of an eventful opening night, Forest Green nonetheless provided Stockport with a rude awakening to Blue Square Bet Premier football.

Reece Styche put Rovers ahead in the 21st minute, a lead they deservedly held until an unfortunate injury to defensive rock Chris Todd with a quarter of the game remaining.

Nick Chadwick replied for Dietmar Hamann's men, and a point apiece was probably the fitting finish for optimistic spectators and TV viewers alike.

As hinted at by his final pre-season selection, Dave Hockaday opted for youth and superior distribution in goal as Matt Bulman displaced last season's regular number one James Bittner.

It was an extremely tough call on the more experienced man – voted player of the year by Rovers fans last term – and it meant there were six new recruits in the home ranks.

James Rowe was another in midfield, and his free-kick in the second minute gave Charlie Griffin a header which was routinely saved by Matt Glennon.

Stockport also had an early headed opportunity, Chadwick leaping to meet a cross from the left but failing to trouble Bulman.

Rovers' new 4-3-3 formation means Styche often finds himself in wide areas, and diligent work from the striker on nine minutes led to a half-cleared cross and a fizzing shot from Kieron Forbes which was brilliantly blocked by Nabil Bounab.

But last season's top scorer at the New Lawn would much rather be a finisher than a supplier, and Rowe obliged with a sweet free-kick for Styche to soar in the middle of the penalty area and plant a header past Glennon into the net.

James Norwood and Sam Sheridan both fired low shots straight at the respective keepers soon afterwards, but it was not until the 42nd minute that another goal looked likely.

This time the benefits of Bulman's boot were clear for all to see, as his huge clearance enabled Norwood to tee up Styche for a snap-shot which was tipped around the post by Glennon.

There was anxiety at the other end in first-half stoppage time, Martin Gritton jumping highest to meet an inswinging corner and nodding just over.

Ryan Fraughan almost levelled in fortuitous fashion at the start of the second period when an attempted cross dipped alarmingly on a back-pedalling Bulman and came back off the crossbar.

But Stockport still looked nervy in possession, and Rowe was quick to pounce on a mistake seven minutes later. The ball broke to Styche and was cleverly worked to the onrushing Norwood, who saw a firm shot blocked by Glennon at the near post.

Anxiety was growing for County, typified by a wild volley over the bar by Sheridan, but there was a blow to Rovers on 66 minutes when new signing Todd hurt himself making a desperate clearance.

Yan Klukowski replaced the centre-half, forcing Jeffrey Imudia to switch to the middle of the defence and Forbes to the unfamiliar position of left-back.

Suddenly the solidity at the back dissolved, and it was no great surprise when Fraughan swung over a deep cross from a short corner and Chadwick bundled in the equaliser with Bulman in no-man's land.

The game was there for either team to win, and only a desperate block on the line by Glennon prevented Luke Graham's header from a Rowe corner making it 2-1.

Stockport substitute Tom Elliott saw a snap-shot flash wide before another war wound for Hockaday to contend with, as Imudia collapsed in agony with cramp.

This time Callum Henry was summoned from the dugout, and somehow the home side clung on for a satisfactory share of the spoils.

Forest Green: M. Bulman; J. Imudia (C. Henry 90), C. Todd (Y. Klukowski 68), L. Graham, J. Hodgkiss; K. Forbes, C. Allen, J. Rowe; C. Griffin, J. Norwood (W. Turk 82), R. Styche; Subs not used: S. Bartlett, J. Bittner.

Stockport County: M. Glennon; R. McCann, N. Bounab, D. Hall, E. Holden; S. Sheridan, J. Routledge, R. Fraughan, J. Miles; M. Gritton (T. Elliott 84), N. Chadwick; Subs not used: A. Halls, K. Parker, I. Ormson.

Referee: R. Whitton (Essex)

Attendance: 1,848

Star man: Reece Styche