Following rain last week and frost for most of this week, it was great to see a well grassed surface on the Belle Vue pitch and although the weather was dull, cool and damp with no frost the scene was set for a cracking match against the current League leaders, Nottingham Forest. It's a 3 o'clock kick off but the crowds have been rolling in since 12 noon and before to take part in the Farewell to Belle Vue, the final match this afternoon before the move to the new Keepmoat Stadium.

The Rovers had a rest last week when a waterlogged pitch forced the postponement of the Yeovil Town match, a much needed rest really as injuries began to take their toll on a small squad playing two games a week for the past few weeks. Today the Rovers make three changes, with Theo Streete coming in for James O'Connor, out with a heel injury, Paul Heffernan replacing the injured Jason Price and Ben Smith coming in for Neil Sullivan, who has been called back to Leeds United. The Forest will be hoping to put last week's aberration, losing at home to relegation haunted Leyton Orient, behind them this afternoon and have a full first team out.

Fire eaters and fireworks greeted the teams as they came out for the start of the game. Various entertainments had been put on before the game with singer Martin Toal giving an excellent performance. The floodlights were switched on to brighten a murky day as the Rovers defended the Rossington end against Nottingham Forest, dressed in all black. The Rovers started brightly, spending the first five minutes in the Forest half without troubling the keeper. Then, following a poor clearance from Ben Smith, in the Rovers goal, the Forest forced the first corner of the game. The ball was cleared to Forte, who had a good run down the Rovers left to gain a corner for the home team, which Lee headed past the far post. On 13 minutes, Forte was put away down the middle to shoot, under challenge, right footed from 20 yards just past a post. Heffernan then put over from 25 yards. After 17 minutes, Tyson got the better of Streete and had a clear sight of goal but elected to square the ball for a colleague giving Lee a chance to intercept and clear. Down to the Forest end and Gareth roberts essayed a shot from 35 yards that Paul Smith, in the Forest goal, caught easily. Minutes later, Forte juggled with the ball in the Forest penalty area to make space for himself but put wide. Corners to Rovers and then Forest came to nothing. On 28 minutes, McCammon, on the right byline, put the ball back to Stock, who threaded it through to Heffernan. His shot was palmed away by the Forest keeper, Coppinger followed up but his effort was blocked by a defender at the expense of a corner to the Rovers. Two minutes later, a blockbuster of a shot by Stock from 30 yards was fingertipped over the bar by the keeper. Forest were by no means out of the game but their thrusts into the Rovers half were isolated and, although threatening, were dealt with by the Rovers defence. After 39 minutes, however, a cross from the left by Tyson was sidefooted wide of the far post by Grant Holt from in front of the Rovers goal. The break came, with the Rovers having had the better of the first half but the score still blank.

The Forest were the first to show when Tyson got away down the left to the byline and hit a low cross across the face of the Rovers goal but behind Grant Holt and away to the right. On 51 minutes, Stock, on the right of the Forest penalty area put a low ball into the middle for McCammon to sweep into the net but Paul Smith, diving the wrong way, managed to get a trailing leg to it and get it away. Back to the Rovers end for Tyson to head wide a cross from the Forest left. It was end to end stuff at this stage but as the hour mark came up the Rovers took the lead, with a goal from STREETE. He got the ball on the Rovers right and from halfway in the Forest half on the touchline hit a screamer for goal. The goalkeeper had it well covered and appeared to have caught it but it squirmed out and into the net. The visitors, as befits a team at the top of the table, hit back and piled on the pressure over the next  five minutes or so. Commons shot wide from 30 yards, a corner came to naught and Grant Holt failed to get on the end of a free kick. On 70 minutes, a free kick on the rovers right was headed down by lockwood but Paul Smith managed to save on the goal line. The Forest tried hard to get something from the game but the Rovers more than matched them. The defence were sterling in their play backed up by good work from Ben Smith in goal, which was much needed in the closing minutes as the Forest threw everything into attack. Even so, the Rovers had a chance to increase their lead on 88 minutes when a good run down the middle by Stock saw him slip the ball through for Forte, who hit a left foot shot against the outside of a post. Four minutes of added time was not enough for Nottingham Forest as the Rovers bid a fond farewell to a Grand Old Stadium, Belle Vue, in great style, with a well merited display and a fine win over the top team.

After over 50 years of visiting Belle Vue, I would like to say a sad but grateful goodbye to Belle Vue. No more shall I tread the terraces and watch sporting heroes tread the immaculate turf of Belle Vue. Farewell, Belle Vue, you will be fondly remembered with memories that can never be taken away.

ROVERS - Ben Smith; Theo Streete, Adam Lockwood, Graeme Lee, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Paul Green, Brian Stock, Jonathan Forte; Paul Heffernan, Mark McCammon.

Subs used - Mark Wilson for Streete 80 mins; Lewis Guy for Coppinger 84 minutes; Sean Thornton for Heffernan 90 mins;

Subs not used - Bruce Dyer, Jan Budtz gk

Nottm Forest - Paul Smith; John Thompson, Ian Breckin, Danny Cullip; John Curtis,Gary Holt, Nicky Southall, Sammy Clingan; Kris Commons, Nathan Tyson, Grant Holt.

Subs used - Junior Agogo for Grant Holt 76 mins; James Perch for Gary Holt;

Subs not used - Wes Morgan, Scott Dobie, Rune Pedersen gk

Cautions - Breckin,