Forest Green Rovers saw their FA Trophy campaign come to an end in the Fifth Round as they were defeated 1-0 by Oxford City at The M-Group Stadium.

Josh Parker’s first half header proved to be the difference on a chilly afternoon in OX3.

Cotterill made five changes from the side that drew away to Altrincham last weekend.

Ben Tozer, Luke McCormick, Jordan Garrick, Christian Doidge and the returning Charlie McCann would return to the starting line-up.

Despite Rovers controlling the opening 15 minutes of the game, it would be the home side to open the scoring.

A corner found forward Josh Parker at the back post who headed the ball past Jed Ward and into the bottom corner.

The remainder of the first half would follow a similar pattern prior to the goal, with Rovers dominating possession and looking to find a way to breakdown the hosts.

Tom Knowles came closest for Rovers in the opening period, with the winger’s effort well saved by Kai McKenzie-Lyle in the Oxford City goal.

We almost grabbed an equaliser just after the hour mark when the ball fell kindly to midfielder Adam May in the box, but he could not direct his effort on target.

It would then be the hosts who created an opening and nearly doubled their lead on the 81st minute, when Parker’s effort from just outside the box crashed against Ward’s crossbar.

The closest Rovers would come to scoring would be in injury time, when substitute Liam Sercombe’s strike hit the outside of the post.

Rovers will turn their attention back to the National League on Tuesday night as they travel to Dagenham and Redbridge.

FGR Starting XI: Ward, Osadebe, Inniss, Tozer (C) , Robson, May, McCormick, McCann, Garrick, Doidge, Knowles

Subs used: McAllister, Quigley, Cardwell, Long, Sercombe

Subs not used: Searle, Bunker

Attendance: 661