A gutsy performance by Northern Premier League side South Shields could not prolong their dream FA Cup run as League One Forest Green Rovers withstood strong second-half pressure to progress into the second round.
Seventh-tier South Shields were outclassed by a side 78 places above them in the first half and trailed to Connor Wickham’s untidy close-range finish from Corey O’Keefe’s exquisite cross.
The Mariners played with far greater urgency in front of a noisy record home crowd of almost 4,000 after the break and had several excellent opportunities to level, most notably through a Michael Woods header and a Blair Adam strike which hit the outside of the post.
A delightful late dipping volley by Tom Broadbent also went agonisingly wide but Rovers, who are 23rd in the third tier and have won just three league games all season, made sure of the win in the final seconds of added time when Wickham scored with an outrageous strike from almost halfway.
More to follow.
Line-ups
South Shields
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Boney
- 5MorseSubstituted forBriggsat 85′minutes
- 4Liddle
- 3Broadbent
- 2Newton
- 6Smith
- 8Woods
- 11Adams
- 10HeaneyBooked at 78mins
- 7Mottley-Henry
- 9AlessandraSubstituted forHunterat 72′minutes
Substitutes
- 12Doherty
- 13Dobson
- 14Briggs
- 15Gomes
- 16Hunter
- 17Ross
- 18Marriott
- 19Hodgson
Forest Green
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 24Thomas
- 3BernardBooked at 78mins
- 5Casey
- 6CargillBooked at 80mins
- 2O’Keeffe
- 8HendrySubstituted forMcAllisterat 90′minutes
- 27BunkerBooked at 89mins
- 11Boyes
- 10Little
- 21Wickham
- 14MattSubstituted forMarchat 59′minutes
Substitutes
- 1McGee
- 17McAllister
- 18Fiabema
- 19Robertson
- 20O’Brien
- 23Fernandes Marques
- 25Peart-Harris
- 28March
Live Text
Match ends, South Shields 0, Forest Green Rovers 2.
Second Half ends, South Shields 0, Forest Green Rovers 2.
Goal! South Shields 0, Forest Green Rovers 2. Connor Wickham (Forest Green Rovers) right footed shot from more than 35 yards to the top right corner. Assisted by Kyle McAllister.
Offside, South Shields. Blair Adams tries a through ball, but Gary Liddle is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Michael Woods (South Shields) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Broadbent with a headed pass.
Attempt missed. Tom Broadbent (South Shields) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Kyle McAllister replaces Regan Hendry.
Attempt missed. Mackenzie Heaney (South Shields) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Harvey Bunker (Forest Green Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Harvey Bunker (Forest Green Rovers).
Michael Woods (South Shields) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, South Shields. Rob Briggs replaces Dillon Morse.
Foul by Armani Little (Forest Green Rovers).
Martin Smith (South Shields) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Baily Cargill (Forest Green Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Baily Cargill (Forest Green Rovers).
Jordan Hunter (South Shields) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Mackenzie Heaney (South Shields) is shown the yellow card.
Dominic Bernard (Forest Green Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Dominic Bernard (Forest Green Rovers).
