THREE goals, three points, a clean sheet, and rivals dropping points ensured Saturday was a good day for Forest Green Rovers.

The winning display against Macclesfield was efficient, not dazzling but this is not a problem during a promotion push. Points are essential, performances not, and the overall approach to the game by the Nailsworth side showed a desire to eliminate mistakes and gain a win by effort and intensity.

Rovers had both in spades. Macclesfield were ground down.

This was a Rovers side full of determination and desire. I almost forgot the cold.

When will we finally experience football on a mild Saturday afternoon? Mrs Light stayed at home – wise woman.

Charles Cooper and Kaiyne Woolery played well for Rovers, possessing pace and energy. For both it was their best performance in a Rovers shirt.

It was a bubbly day at the New Lawn with amusing banter all round and the chance to see a pretentious North West-based Premier League team drop points at home.

Thank you FGR Supporters Club for the big TV screen.

The increasingly glum Macclesfield supporters uttered an almost indistinct chant. Realising it was “Come on Silkmen” my memory took me back to geography lessons with Mrs Kirkpatrick and Miss Brayley.

We were, as pupils, left in no doubt as to where the centres of British industry were and what they produced.

Next Saturday’s visit to Dagenham will not be as difficult to remember as Saturday’s recollection of the centre of the British silk industry.

I hope Forest Green Rovers win. It will prevent me despairing at the memory of ageing Ford Prefects, Anglias and Cortinas that were among my first vehicles.

With cricket’s county championship shaved to 14 games there is now a plan to curtail the domestic T20 competition leaving each team with five home games. How many will the Bristol HQ allow to come to Cheltenham?

The reason the domestic competition is being savaged is to accommodate an eight-city franchise T20 competition.

There is a growing group of counties against this as they put cricket before cash. Others are still seeing pound signs dancing before their eyes.

I ask one question – Who would rather watch Manchester Marauders against Nottingham Hoods than Lancashire v Nottinghamshire? There will be no chance to divert to Gloucestershire v Somerset. Quite simply no meaningful cricket will be played while this wretched inter-city farce takes place.

County chairmen are to vote imminently. Watch this space as I will name and shame the guilty men.

Encountering a popular (if ageing) local cricketer this week I realised how near the new season is. He had already been asked about his availability on Saturdays for the coming season!

Work may cause him problems so Barnsley Beeches CC may have a vacancy to fill in their upper order.

A busy week is in prospect. On Tuesday, it is off to Fairford for a cup semi-final for the second consecutive Tuesday evening.

Then how could I miss Forest Green v Dagenham on Saturday? I hope I am joined by many who realise that for every good reason “The only way is Essex”.