Match Report: Forest Green 4-0 Weston-super-Mare
Forest Green Rovers entered their name into the next round of the FA Trophy after a dominant second-half display.
Braces from Kyle McAllister and substitute Jayden Clarke pushed Rovers through after an uncharacteristic first half.
Manager Robbie Savage made four half-time changes which sparked Rovers into life, with Kyle McAllister heading home before following up with a fierce strike to double the lead.
Jayden Clarke produced two classy finishes to put the game to bed, with the fourth goal curling beautifully into the top corner.
Rovers now enter the draw, which will take place on Monday 15 December at 5.00 pm.
First Half:
Rovers saw plenty of the ball in the opening ten minutes, applying good pressure on the Seagulls. Whitwell did well to pickpocket the Weston midfield and drive forward in trademark fashion, teeing up McAllister, whose shot was blocked by an outstretched Weston defender.
Weston earned their first corner of the game in the 21st minute, which proved tricky for the returning McNicholas, who punched the ball away from under the bar. Rovers raced straight up the other end, where Dausch had a great opportunity to put the hosts in front, but the young loanee could not keep his shot down..
Rovers had another chance to break the deadlock in the 27th minute after Harry Whitwell slipped through the on-rushing Jili Buyabu. However, the on-loan Sheffield United man could only fire his shot straight at the advancing Max Harris.
George Birch tried his luck from range for Weston in the 35th minute, with his effort flying past McNicholas’ post. Weston began to grow into the game as the half drew to a close, applying more pressure on the Rovers back line. Nick Haighton had a good chance from a free-kick 25 yards out, but he couldn’t keep it on target as it sailed over the bar. Mendy then struck the bar from a corner routine on the stroke of half-time.
Half-time: Forest Green 0-0 Weston-super-Mare
Second Half:
Manager Robbie Savage made four changes at the start of the second half, and they had an immediate impact, with Yahya Bamba enjoying plenty of success down the right-hand side. The deadlock was finally broken in the 52nd minute when Harry Whitwell delivered a lovely cross for Kyle McAllister to head home past the outstretched Harris.
Just six minutes later, McAllister completed his brace and doubled Rovers’ lead. Tre Pemberton sent a cross to substitute Temi Babalola, who used his strength well to hold off a Weston-super-Mare defender, allowing McAllister to smash the ball home.
The substitutes breathed new life into Rovers, who continued to ramp up the pressure. Yahya Bamba again found joy down the right-hand side, twisting and turning his defender on several occasions, with one notable cross deflecting just over the crossbar.
The game was all but put to bed in the 70th minute when substitute Jayden Clarke took a touch on the edge of the box before arrowing a sweet left-footed strike into the bottom-left corner following a McAllister pass.
Rovers were keen to add further goals after failing to take their chances in recent weeks, and they found a fourth through Clarke once more. The forward showed his class by nestling the ball neatly into the side netting beyond the outstretched Seagulls goalkeeper to secure his second of the afternoon.
Despite manager Robbie Savage’s calls to “go forward” from a cold New Lawn, Rovers had to settle for four goals as they now enter the fourth-round draw, which will take place on Monday, 15 December at 5.00 pm.
Full-time: Forest Green Rovers 4-0 Weston-super-Mare
Forest Green Rovers: McNicholas, Kengni (Doidge, 77), Mendy, McAllister, Haughton (Clarke, 46), Dausch (Babalola, 46), Moore (Bunker, 46), Pemberton, Buyabu, Whitwell, Kanu (Bamba, 46).
Subs not used: Isted, Robson.
Weston-super-Mare: Harris, Smith, Bernard, Avery, Kite (Wood, 70), Britton, Wilson (Coulson, 70), May (Hicks, 70), Lewis, Cummins, Birch (Johnson, 87).
Subs not used: Glover, Cane.
Attendance: 973 (206 away)
