LIVE: Alty 1 Forest Green Rovers 0

FULL TIME - An absolutely vital win - and one that wasn't really expected prior to kick off.

But Alty really laboured to claim the three points. A touch more composure was required in the final third because if they'd had that, it could have been three or four.

As it was, they never quite killed the game off and Forest Green even had a couple of chances to snatch a draw late on, as the Alty defence panicked.

But, ultimately, they have to be pleased with the three points today, nothing else really matters.

With Farsley and Weymouth both winning, it was absolutely essential they didn't lose any ground - and they haven't.

There are a few things to work on ahead of the Crawley game on Tuesday and there is still plenty of room for improvement if they are to secure survival in the Blue Square Premier.

90 mins - Just like I said before, Alty don't do things the easy way.

They almost threw the three points away as Fleetwood was allowed to run in behind the defence. It looked a certain goal as he took the ball past Coburn but the keeper did enough to force him wide and his eventual cross was cleared by Young.

At the other end though, King had a shot comfortably saved by Robinson but Alty would just be happy to hear the whistle.

GOAL - Alty 1 (Battersby) Forest Green 0 - 87 mins - It's there, absolute pandemonium and it's come from the most unlikely of heroes.

The two former Vics men created it, as Roca's cross fell to Battersby at the far post and he took his chance superbly well, taking a touch before blasting an unstoppable shot into the far corner.

They may once have worn green but they're red and white heroes today.

85 mins - Alty are absolutely desperate for that breakthrough now.

They are throwing men forward to try and force a goal but have lacked a bit of composure in and around the area so far.

Both Lawton and Roca have slung good balls into the box at different times but they've come to nothing. You have to credit the Forest Green defence but Alty are playing into their hands somewhat.

80 mins - It looked a certain goal there.

Another great bit of work from the tireless King set Cahill racing away down the left. He beat the defence, managed to get a cross in but Robinson got a crucial hand on it with sub Richard Battersby lurking at the back post.

The crowd are getting a bit restless now, they want that win.

75 mins - Alty might have had a penalty if Roca had been slightly less honest - it's not often you get a chance to say that these days.

He drew contact after beating Jones inside the area but rather than going down he attempted to get to the by-line but stumbled and the ball went out.

If he'd gone down it would've been a penalty and you've got to wonder if referee's are doing enough to reward honest play.

Otherwise, the Robins have had a couple of decent chances. Roca had a shot blocked by Michael Brough after jinking into the area, while Cahill shot just wide after a long throw from Lane.

No breakthrough yet.

RED CARD - 69 mins - John Hardiker (Forest Green) - This is remarkable. Forest Green are now down to nine men.

John Hardiker made an awful challenge on Little and was walking before the referee even had a chance to pick that second yellow card out of his pocket, swiftly followed by the red.

With Cahill coming on for Shotton, Alty have adapted a bold 3-4-3 formation and they quite simply have to win this now.

65 mins - You've got to give credit to Forest Green for the manner of their performance since losing Burton at the end of the first half.

They've kept their shape, playing 4-4-1, have thwarted any attacking play from the hosts and hit out well on the break.

In fact, they're playing virtually the same game Alty did in the first half, just with more pace and threat on the counter.

Cahill's now stripping off down on the bench as well - sounds like I'm discrebing a peep show - and he'll soon join fellow sub Roca on the pitch.

60 mins - Still nothing to lift our spirits on a miserable day just yet but Heathcote must have heard our calls as Carlos Roca is stripping off down on the touchline.

Roca's not had much chance to impress in a red and white shirt so far but this could be his big chance.

If nothing else, he brings pace and an ability to beat players and that's exactly the kind of thing that's needed to lift this game.

55 mins - Alty looking a bit more composed now. They're seeing more of the ball and had a good chance just moments ago to open the scoring.

King made a superb challenge to dispossess Tonkin on the right and fed Little inside the area. It seemed perfect for the striker to hit but he opted to jink his way through the defence instead and Giles made a well-timed challenge to halt his progress.

Despite the sending off, the game has settled back into the familiar pattern of the first half, namely dull, uninspired football. The weather's not helping as it's chucking it down here now but at some stage, the Robins will have to go for it.

50 mins - It's been a pretty nervy start to the second half for Alty.

At the moment they don't look like the team with an extra man and Forest Green have had a couple of half chances to keep the defence on their toes.

They can't afford to throw away what is a golden opportunity here, especially with Weymouth taking the lead against Stevenage and Stafford and Farsley both still level.

Plenty of time to nick a goal though.

HALF TIME - What a strange first half.

We see a pretty dull 44 minutes and then suddenly, more drama than a soap opera.

I predicted that a defensive error would be the only way Alty would get a break in this game but I could never have imagined it would happen in such a ridiculous fashion.

Surely now Alty have to go for it, the game's set up for them to do it. As a result of the sending off, Heathcote's first half plan has worked to perfection and it's now starting to look like they may get the result they so desperately need.

RED CARD - 44 mins - Terry Burton (Forest Green) - My prayers have been answered.

This game has exploded into life as Forest Green keeper Burton receives his marching orders.

After King had played Little in behind the defence, the keeper inexplicably rushed 15 or 20 yards from his area and crudely took out the Alty striker.

The referee had no chance but to send him off and the drama continued as Burton proceeded to clown about, taking a good two minutes to leave the field of play.

First he collapsed in a heap near the touchline, pretending he was injured and then, when that didn't work, he decided to pull his socks up.

After the keeper had eventually left the field of play, Peyton fired in the free kick, sub keeper Ryan Robinson parried his drive and O'Neill hit the post from the rebound - from all of six yards.

There was a major question mark over the whole incident though, as O'Neill appeared to be offside when the keeper brought down Little, so maybe the free kick should have been given the other way.

It doesn't matter now though.

40 mins - After the frantic action of Tuesday's 3-3 draw with Halifax, this game is a walk in the park to cover. My keyboard and my fingers are having a much easier time of it.

It would be nice to have something to get excited about though. It's just, at the minute, that doesn't seem likely to happen any time soon.

Due to the way they've set up, Alty have barely threatened and O'Neill has moved up front now instead of Little in an attempt to make the ball stick a bit more.

Forest Green have been thoroughly disappointing though too. They have really struggled to break down the home defence and have lacked any ideas whatsoever. Heathcote's plan has worked so far.

35 mins - It was squeaky bum time for a minute there as Forest Green came within a whisker of opening the scoring.

It did come from the right flank but from a free kick rather than open play. Alex Lawless whipped a decent ball in to the far post and Giles headed just wide of the post.

It was a warning sign.

30 mins - Forest Green have yet to have a shot on goal.

Surprising I know, but it's true.

They have started to threaten a bit more over the past five minutes though and they're getting joy down Alty's problem left channel.

It's not that Peyton's played badly, just that he's not used to playing there and Rovers have got in behind a couple of times.

So far, those chances have not yielded anything, mainly because Rigoglioso's low crosses are being cut out at the near post but it's something to be wary of.

25 mins - You'd think, if you were playing a 5ft 10ins striker up front on his own, the last thing on your mind would be to lump long balls up front.

Well you'd be wrong because that's exactly what the Robins are doing at the moment. I very much doubt that this is what Graham Heathcote instructed his troops to do because every time they clear their lines, the ball comes right back at them. It's like playing a game of wallie (I don't know if any of you remembert that from your youth, the game which basically involved repeatedly kicking the ball against a wall. Beautiful in its simplicity).

Alty just need a bit more patience. They need to keep hold of the ball and string a few passes together.

If that involves playing backwards at times, so be it, but it will mean they can get more numbers up when they do actually attack.

20 mins - The visiting radio men alonside me have spent their time maligning Forest Green's final ball but, to be honest, that's not their only problem.

I really haven't been that impressed by them so far. As much as Alty have played spoiling tactics, more often than not Rovers have just launched the ball up to their dangerous front pair of Adriano Rigoglioso and Stuart Fleetwood, surprising for one of the league's better footballing sides.

Still very few chances at either end and that will probably suit the home side more at this stage.

15 mins - A golden chance came for Alty to take the lead on 14 minutes, the only real chance of the game so far.

It came from a defensive error and that's probably going to be where the Robins' chances will come from.

O'Neill picked Chris Giles' pocket on halfway and fed Little. The striker was clean through on goal and his left-foot drive seemed destined for the bottom corner but Terry Burton pulled off an outstanding fingertip save to keep it scoreless.

10 mins - Thus far, it has been slightly worrying how little support there is for the lone striker (spot the rather obvious pun).

Every time Alty are in possession, there's a gap of about 20 yards between the midfield four and Little. A case in point was a move just moments ago when Robbie Lawton got in down the right but when he crossed, it fell between a crowd of three Rovers' defenders who were completely unchallenged.

Maybe it's containment until half time when the Robins will make theie move. I suppose we'll have to wait and see.

5 mins - Well, what I said about tried and tested appears to be incorrect.

Rather than 4-4-2, the Robins are actually lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, obviously aimed at stifling Forest Green's passing game.

Lane is acting as the holding midfielder in front of the defence, while Shotton is playing right back and Warren Peyton left back.

O'Neill is lining up on the left of the midfield four, with Little up front on his own.

It's worked well enough at the moment, as Rovers are simply being flooded in the middle, but Little does look a bit isolated up top. A couple of times he's received the ball but there's been nothing on for him.

3pm - Not a huge crowd today, unsurprising really because Forest Green's travelling support look to have come in a people carrier.

Apparently one of the sponsors for today's game is a stag do. So, instead of tying the stag to a post it seems they're bringing him to Alty.

Based on Tuesday's 3-3 draw with Halifax, Alty do seem intent on handing out punishment to their fans of late - they certainly don't do things the easy way.

2.45pm - Two changes to the starting line-up for today's game, neither of them surprising.

After the disastrous experiment with a 3-4-3 formation during the first half last week, Alty revert back to their tried and tested 4-4-2.

Chris Lane comes in at right back, replacing Richard Battersby in the team and it looks like Ryan Shotton will start at left back.

Ryan Toulson comes back in after missing out on Tuesday due to the terms of his loan from Halifax and will start on the right of midfield.

With Chris Senior unavailable due to a masseur's exam, Joe O'Neill and Colin Little are the starting pair up front, Tom Cahill left on the bench.

Alty (4-4-2): Coburn; Lane, Tinson, Young, Shotton; Toulson, King, Lawton, Peyton; Little, O'Neill. Subs: Scott, Cahill, Roca, Battersby, McFadden.

Forest Green (4-4-2): Burton; Jones, Giles, Hardiker, Tonkin; Lawless, Pitman, Brough, Clist; Rigoglioso, Fleetwood. Subs: Robinson, Preece, Welsh, Afful, Dodgson.