"We've given it a good go," says Town boss McGrath on opening day defeat at Forest Green

Will Flint's goal gave Town a half-time lead but that was wiped out before Zak Gilsenan's last minute free-kick.

"Really disappointed with the second-half, I thought the first-half was superb, we controlled the game, we were really energetic, we were bright," McGrath said.

"I mentioned at half-time about the importance of keeping hold of the football because they're at home, backed by a good crowd and they've got good players.

"I said to the boys 'you've got to expect they're going to come out of the blocks' but that's where you have to be really good on the ball and for the first 15, 20 minutes of that second-half we turned over possession and then suddenly the game gets stretched, then we lose control of it.

"The three goals we conceded were poor, very poor, but it's there to be rectified so it doesn't happen again."

On the difference from the first-half to the second-half, McGrath said: "When we are in control of the game, just because the half-time break comes, it doesn't mean that there should be a shift in how the game goes.

"We've got to get better at that, too many times we have the ball away sloppily, to be fair to the boys, trying to play how I want to play, but just making the wrong decisions in possession.

"But we kept going, we created some good chances towards the back end of the second-half and finished off with a wonder goal by Zak."

McGrath said the firepower of both benches proved decisive in the result.

"It didn't help when we made our substitutions, Dylan had to come off," he said.

"Their strength-indepth was really good, the players that came on were really bright. That's the dufference, that's where they are as a football club.

"I'm actively looking to bring in two or three, we're working hard to make the squad a 23-man squad that can compete on all fronts."

McGrath said there were loads of positives to take for his side.

"I think we've been really competitive against a team that finished in the play-offs last season, with a group of lads that I know are hurting," he said.

"Loads of positives, we scored two really good goals, the first goal really personifies what we're about as a football club, instead of tossing the ball into the box it was really sharp, bright play with Cody and Zak, getting enough bodies in the box.

"And then a bit of individual brilliance from Zak, which I know he's got.

"Overall, really disappointed with the way we defended the goals but in the main, we've come away from home to a title contender and given it a good go."

Crowe went off with a groin injury, said McGrath while captain Cody Johnson had a slight hamstring issue.

"It was purely precautionary, he felt his hamstring tighten up so he said 'I don't want it to go'," McGrath said.

On the absence of winger Owen Bray, the Town boss said: "He didn't train on Thursday, he was ill on Wednesday night, all day Thursday and Thursday night so we didn't want him around the group."