Rovers secured their place in round two of the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory over South Shields. A goal either side of half time from Connor Wickham was enough to see FGR progress.

Both sides came out the blocks quickly and it was Rovers with the first chance of the game. Corey O’Keeffe received the ball after a poor clearance but his strike was tipped away by Myles Boney.

Rovers broke the deadlock in the 27th minute when O’Keeffe, who had been a thorn in the side of South Shields, whipped a delightful ball into the path of Wickham who glanced the ball past Boney.

South Shields put their stamp on the game shortly after the break when Conor Newton lifted the ball in towards Michael Woods, but Lewis Thomas watched his header go wide.

Just moments later, Dillon Morse registered South Shields' first shot on target in the match when he rose above all the Rovers defenders and forced Thomas into action. Rovers were caught out on the wing when Blair Adams made a darting run towards the six-yard-box, but his low and hard strike hit the side netting.

With five additional minutes on the clock, Wickham doubled Rovers’ lead with an outstanding strike from just inside the South Shields half, lifting the ball over Boney and into the top corner.

Rovers will be ball number one in Monday’s second round draw.