WATCH out Dagenham – here we come!

That was the clear message sent from York on Saturday. An enthusiastic, exuberant Forest Green Rovers side showed that the club is heading for the play-offs in good heart.

Manager Mark Cooper will have selection problems, but for all the right reasons.

He has continually asked his players to show character and on Saturday they certainly did.

The long throw barrage had been anticipated and how well York delivered it.

Forest Green were in chaos for the first five minutes but kept calm, kept organised and could easily have won the game instead of drawing it 2-2.

Shamir Mullings, Omar Bugiel and Manny Monthe deserve special mention. They are all very much works in progress but all have considerable potential.

Mullings raced and chased all afternoon. He could never be ignored and his height was useful in defence as well.

Monthe grew in stature as the game progressed and as well as being a tower in defence he was able to bring the ball upfield with pace and control.

Bugiel did what he does best, scoring two goals with the efficiency, ease and elegance that Mrs Light shows planting petunias.

Mark Ellis was dominant in the air and with Dan Wishart and Dale Bennett playing well, York had little to offer apart from throw-ins.

They did, of course, have former FGR player Jon Parkin, but two typical Parkin goals were not enough.

Omar had set us on the right road. The first goal came on seven minutes. Wishart carried the ball forward and the red-shirted York defence parted like the Red Sea. It was surprisingly easy for Omar to score.

The irrepressible Parkin equalised, celebrating in true JP style, diving to the ground with arms wide apart. I expected to read of a small earthquake in the Bootham area of York.

Livewire Omar restored our lead as we established our dominance, but after half- time York struck back (Parkin again) before our defence subsequently held firm. A draw seemed like a victory.

Manager Mark used his substitutions well, Drissa Traore always seems physically vulnerable but in Marcus Kelly the right man was on hand. Once booked Dale Bennett came off as a safety measure and Keanu Marsh-Brown is not yet firing on all cylinders so it was no surprise when he was withdrawn.

Confucius wished people the chance to live in interesting times. This is constantly the case at Forest Green and especially now.

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club surprised and delighted us all on Sunday, coming from behind to defeat Middlesex at Lord's.

There were several heroes. Liam Norwell took five wickets, Ian Cockbain scored a century and then my man of the match Benny Howell took wickets and struck a vigorous 86 not out.

His sixes into the Mound Stand executive boxes sent spectators scuttling. Howell and Cockbain came together with the score at 65-5. Victory was over 190 runs away. In the final stages they made victory seem easy.

What a fine one-day player Benny Howell is! He bowled his full 10-over stint taking 3-40 and then his excellent knock led us to victory. International recognition cannot be far away.

I was not at Lord's having remained in Cirencester for a service at the Parish Church. Many decisions will have to be made about conflicting demands in the next few days.

Two play-off games against Dagenham, plus the chance to see England in the ODI at the Brightside Ground. There's also the unmissable opportunity to join Cirencester RFC for dinner on Friday night and an important occasion at Gloucester Cathedral on Saturday.

Two things are certain. As well as joining the rugby club, Mrs Light and I are heading for Nailsworth. After Penny has finished her ecclesiastical duties we shall head for our first ever vegan Sunday lunch, and hopefully return with the news that FGR are Wembley-bound.

It is not all sport, however. We have just returned from the Fleece Fayre in the Market Place. This occasion was Cirencester at its very best and helped this sports fan to regain a sense of perspective.