Forest Green Rovers exited the Papa John’s Trophy on penalties after a 1-1 draw against Oxford United.

Mark Cooper made just four changes in a strong Rovers line-up at the Kassam Stadium. Kane Wilson, Dan Sweeney, Matty Stevens and Odin Bailey made their way into the starting eleven for the knockout clash.

The home side looked the most likely to break the deadlock within the opening few minutes. Former Rovers loanee Rob Hall was bundled down on the edge of the box – and stepped up to take the resulting free-kick. But from 25-yards out, the winger saw his effort cannon off the upright and away from danger.

Rovers managed to get a slight foothold in the encounter – and duly had a cracking chance to open the scoring. Nicky Cadden sent in yet another threatening corner-kick into the penalty area – and the rising head of Jamille Matt managed to nod wide of the mark under pressure in the box.

Karl Robinson’s charges continued to press the Rovers defence, but Luke McGee was on hand to keep the match level. Dan Agyei did well to ride the challenge of Udoka Godwin-Malife in the area before finding Olamide Shodipo – who was denied at close range by the FGR stopper.

On the stroke of half-time and after a number of minutes of Rovers pressure, the visitors took the lead. Matty Stevens won the ball back on the left-flank and created space to send in a cross. Waiting in the middle of the penalty area was Odin Bailey who, on his 21st birthday, rose the highest in the area to power his header beyond Simon Eastwood.

Just after the hour mark and it was the U’s who levelled proceedings. Substitute Leon Chambers-Parillon was forced straight into the action – after his flick down the line allowed QPR loanee Shodipo to squeeze his attempt past McGee from a tight angle.

The tie went to penalties at the Kassam Stadium – and after two missed attempts from Aaron Collins and Udoka Godwin-Malife, U’s skipper John Mousinho stepped up and fired the home side into the next round.

Oxford United XI: Eastwood, Clare, Hall, Sykes, Forde, Mousinho, Agyei (O’Donkor 85), Hanson (Osei Yaw 80), Obita (Chambers-Parillion 63), Shodipo, Jones.

Unused subs: Stevens, Long, Kelly.

Forest Green XI: McGee, Wilson (Wagstaff 67), Sweeney, Winchester, Adams, Stevens, Cadden, Matt (Collins 75), Moore-Taylor (Bernard 37), Bailey, Godwin-Malife.

Unused subs: Thomas, Whitehouse, Carter, Bell.

Referee: Craig Hicks