Jamaican Garrick secures shock win for Rovers

LONDON (CMC):

Jamaican winger Jordon Garrick fired English League One basement club Forest Green Rovers to a shock 1-0 win over promotion hopefuls Sheffield Wednesday at New Lawn yesterday, but they still have a mountain to climb to avoid being relegated.

The 24-year-old flicked home a low cross at the near post from defender Dominic Bernard on the right in the 35th minute - his fifth goal of the season and fourth for Rovers - to give Duncan Ferguson's men the lead after a dominant first-half display from Rovers.

Second-placed Wednesday came close to equalising in the 67th minute, but Lee Gregory was denied by the combined efforts of goalkeeper Ross Doohan and Udoka Godwin-Malife.

Doohan pulled off a fine save to repel Marvin Johnson as time ticked away, with Rovers recording a first win since December and their first under boss Ferguson, who replaced Ian Burchnall in late January. They are, however, 11 points from safety.

Garrick, who joined Forest Green from Championship outfit Swansea City in January after a loan spell at Lincoln City, where he scored once last August, was upbeat when asked if he thought Rovers, last season's League Two champions, could still claw their way to safety and avoid the drop back to the fourth tier.

"We never say we won't. We'll keep believing," said Garrick, who moved to England from Jamaica as a child with his family.

Added Ferguson: "The boys put in an amazing shift today. They absolutely worked their socks off, and I'm proud of them."