The Whites were given another reminder of the gulf in quality between top-division football in the Mid and North Wilts Leagues as visiting Forest Green Rovers deservedly emerged victorious from an absorbing encounter.
While the hosts' commitment and work ethic carried them to within the width of a goalpost of a very useful point, they were out-passed and out-manoeuvred by Forest Green throughout.
On the occasions they did get it right, Colts were highly effective. They opened the scoring close to the end of a nip-and-tuck first half when Matthew rose superbly to head home Toby’s trademark right-wing corner, which was won when Brandon M broke through the middle at the end of a fine move and saw a fierce drive turned behind.
But they were pegged back with the final kick of the first period – a psychological blow that had a major hand in the result. Colts had several chances to clear their lines on the edge of the box, failed to do so, and conceded a free-kick that beat both the wall and Max’s attempts to palm it over the bar.
A buoyant Forest Green piled on the pressure at the start of the second half, with the Colts at sixes and sevens. The decisive goal arrived when a shot cannoned back off the post, hit a retreating defender and rolled agonisingly into the net.
As Colts committed an increasing number of players forward in search of an equaliser, the lively George twice almost fashioned it. First, he beat two players for pace before being halted by the advancing keeper, then curled a shot against the post after a decent move involving Matthew and Toby.
Liam’s movement also gave Forest Green some anxious moments at the back, while Luke S got through plenty of work in the engine room and used possession well.
Max made some good saves to deny the visitors an opening goal in the first half and was assisted by Tom, Bradley and Brandon M, all of whom were continually tested by a menacing Forest Green midfield and attack.
Luke VDB made one fine goalline intervention to prevent further damage to the scoreline and Brandon H and Callum grafted away on the right flank.
Once again, an at-times physical match was played in a sporting manner by both teams. Although the Colts have much to work on, it is a measure of how far they have come that they are now competing toe-to-toe with – and earning the respect of - well-established clubs such as Forest Green.

MOM: George