FA CUP FIRST ROUND REPLAY

FOREST GREEN ROVERS 0

OXFORD UNITED 3

OXFORD UNITED ended Forest Green’s FA Cup dreams on a chastening  night for Mark Cooper’s side.

Karl Robinson’s side will travel to Plymouth Argyle in the second round after goals in each half from James Henry and Jamie Mackie made it a comfortable replay victory at Forest Green.

Oxford nosed ahead on 35 minutes - Cameron Brannagan arrowed in a curling strike from the edge of the box, which  Forest Green goalkeeper James Montgomery parried out for James Henry to turn in the free ball.

Rovers were stung just two minutes after the restart- delicate feet from Josh Ruffels opened Mark Cooper’s side up for Mackie to prod home.

Oxford sub Marcus Browne wrapped the tie up on 78 minutes, fizzing in from just inside the box.

Earlier, Rovers slipped into their possession-based style of football – Theo Archibald opening his legs to arrow a ball across the Oxford box inside the opening two minutes.

This  cup replay was lacking intensity,  but Rovers really should have opened the scoring on 14 minutes. LIoyd James arrowed in a free-kick on a plate for Tahvon Campbell, but the recalled striker failed to get the touch needed to turn the ball into the inviting net.

Archibald was Rovers’ chief threat and his corner saw Paul Digby plant a header, which was blocked by Curtis Nelson and as the ball ran free, Jamie Hanson denied Reuben Reid the follow up opportunity.

For all of Rovers’ dominance with the ball it was the League One outfit who nosed ahead on 35 minutes. Cameron Brannagan arrowed a curling strike which was parried back into the danger zone by James Montgomery for James Henry to react the quickest and turn in the free ball.

Jame Mackie saw a shot deflected wide as Oxford found their first-half feet.

Rovers were stung just two minutes after the restart- delicate feet from Josh Ruffels opened Mark Cooper’s side up for Mackie to prod home.

An exposed Montgomery saved with his feet from Gavin Whyte as Oxford opened Rovers up.

Cooper’s side flickered into life – Joseph Mills arching over a cross but Reid got under his header.

Reid hooked one over the bar from another booming Mills’ ball and this was his last slice of action as Cooper replaced the Rovers’ striker for Ipswich Town loanee Ben Morris with twenty minutes left on the clock.

Oxford were close to a third when culpable defending saw sub Sam Smith rifle the ball into the grateful Montgomery.

Oxford sealed the tie on 78 minutes – sub Browne finding the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Forest Green (4-2-3-1) Montgomery; Winchester, McGinley, Rawson, Mills; James, Digby; Archibald (Williams 62), Reid (Morris 70), Brown (Worthington 79), Campbell

Subs not used: Sanchez, Pearce, Gunning, Morris, Worthington

Oxford United: Eastwood; Garbutt, Dickie, Nelson, Hanson, Brannagan, Ruddels, Mousinho, Whyte (Long 73 ), Henry (Browne 67), Mackie (Smith 67)

Subs not used: Norman,  Raglan, Stevens, James

Star Man:

Attendance: 1,614

Away fans: 509

Referee: Trevor Kettle

Star Man: Joseph Mills