VISITORS Morecambe brought seaside sunshine to the New Lawn on Saturday. At the final whistle it was the faces of the Forest Green fans which were bathed in a warm glow after another three points had been collected.

The improved league position of 20th now gives real cause for confidence.

Forest Green started slowly and it took some fine defending by Jack Fitzwater to keep Morecambe at bay. A friendly post helped as well but Rovers began to take control.

Some clever passing between Keanu Marsh-Brown and Isaiah Osbourne left Keanu clear. His deft finish gave Rovers the lead.

The game was just 30 minutes old, but from then on there was no doubt that Rovers would win. Morecambe huffed and puffed but a determined Rovers team easily snuffed out their attacks.

A free kick from Scott Laird gave Rovers a deserved second goal.

He and Marsh-Brown have a new routine. The ball is held aloft. When placed Marsh-Brown dummies taking it, leaving it to the left-footed full back. This totally confused the visiting defenders who remained as static as Ecotricity windmills, allowing the ball to creep in at the far post.

The game was not a classic. Morecambe were not good enough for that but in beating them Rovers showed all the characteristics that have marked their recent improvement.

The defence is much tighter following Fitzwater’s return from injury. In goal Bradley Collins is increasing in confidence game by game.

Manager Mark got it right when he said: “The young men are growing up.”

It is however one of the senior players that has been the catalyst of the recent recovery. Osbourne has by his very presence settled the side. He does the simple things well, makes the right decisions and it is clear he has given confidence to those around him.

His beautifully weighted pass to set up KMB’s goal shows what a good footballer he is.

It was a good afternoon all round at the New Lawn. By 1.30pm the Carol Embrey Suite was bubbling with enthusiasm and anticipation. It was the same in The Green Man.

The second anniversary of the club becoming vegan was enthusiastically celebrated. Vegan goodie bags were proudly clutched and free samples of the splendid soup were enthusiastically devoured.

I was critical of the move to all-vegan offerings but now happily eat not just my words but many delightful offerings.

Before the game the sight of my media colleagues munching their lunch in the designated room was a clear indication of the widespread appeal of FGR dining.

There have been moans this week from some blinkered fans that it is not the club it was – no-one caring about the fans etc. These comments can easily be dealt with.

Of course it is not the club it was. We are in the second division of the Football League, drawing 2,500 fans a game.

Everything from food and drink to football, and even refereeing has improved.

If things do go awry a quiet word in the right place works wonders. Chief executive Helen Taylor and vice chairman Phil Butterworth are easily accessible and get things done.

The afternoon was especially pleasurable for me. An old school friend from the Cirencester Grammar School intake of 1951 popped up to the press box for a cheerful word.

Peter Beaman, living in Brinkworth, splits his soccer watching between Southampton and Forest Green, and looks very well on it. I also received complimentary remarks concerning this column.

The evening was spent quietly with Mr Light until I became annoyed at the inane and contrived spookiness of a certain dancing programme.

It was time to look forward to progress in the Checkatrade Trophy and a competition with which I am more familiar, The FA Cup, when we host Macclesfield on Saturday.

A previous encounter between the two sides set a long-standing record. No prizes, but does anyone know what record?