FA Trophy Forest Green 4 Weston – super-Mare 0
Kyle McAllister and Jayden Clarke grabbed second-half braces as Robbie Savage’s Forest Green swept aside Weston-super-Mare to book their spot in the fourth round of the FA Trophy.
Savage heaped praise on his side after booking their place in the next round, he beamed: “I’m delighted, I thought the boys in the second half were magnificent, they’re a good side with a good manager, Scott Rogers, and they’re in the third round of the FA Cup.”
With the game scoreless at the break, Savage made four changes from the restart and Rovers certainly hit their straps from the off: “I was frustrated in the first half; people needed to grasp their opportunities, and in the second half, some people did,” revealed Savage.
The Rovers’ boss heaped praise on McAllister, who caught the eye throughout the 90 minutes: “Kyle played as a number six in the second half, but with his energy, he’ll always be at the top of the distance covered.
“He can play anywhere; the right, the left, a six, an eight, as a 10. I’ve told him that this season, he should be getting 15 goals and 15 assists, I think he’s scored nine goals and six assists.
“He just needs to add numbers. Football is becoming about data, and people will look at how many goals, assists, goal contributions he ha,s and he should be getting 30 goal contributions a season.”
From the outset, Rovers dominated possession. The leggy Harry Whitwell stepped on the gas to release McAllister, but his effort was thwarted by a timely Sam Avery block.
Jili Buyabu fluffed his lines on 27 minutes, drilling straight at Max Harris for Rovers’ first meaningful effort on the Weston goal.
Watch Forest Green boss Robbie Savage deliver his post-match synopsis following his side’s FA Trophy victory
Exeter City loanee George Birch was a constant source of concern for the Rovers back line, and his incisive play saw the pint-sized winger clip a strike narrowly wide of Luke McNicholas’s far post.
With five minutes remaining of a tepid first half, veteran defender Avery came to the Seagulls’ rescue, clearing off the line from Isaac Moore’s header after Nick Haughton’s corner.
Watch Weston boss Scott Rogers give an honest assessment following his side’s defeat at Forest Green
Laurent Mendy headed onto the bar in stoppage-time from yet another corner – Rovers’ seventh corner of the half.
Savage made four changes at the break. The deadlock was broken on 51 minutes – Whitwell’s cross picked out McAllister who nodded beyond Harris.
Swipe through Peter Barnes’ Forest Green picture gallery
Rovers looked to press on. Mendy saw his header cleared off the line by Louis Britton as Rovers threatened a second.
McAllister smashed home his second on 58 minutes, converting a Tre Pemberton cross with aplomb. Any lingering nerves were ended when substitute Clarke added a game over third with 20 minutes left on the clock – fizzing in from outside the box.
Clarke bagged his second on 83 minutes with a carbon copy finish.
Forest Green Rovers: McNicholas 6; Pemberton 6, Mendy 7, Kanu 6 (Bunker 46,6) Kengni 6 (Doidge 77, 6); Moore 6 (Bamba 46, 7); McAllister 8, Haughton 6 (Clarke 46, 7), Whitwell 7, Buyabu 7; Dausch 6 (Babalola 46, 6).
Subs not used: Isted, Robson
Weston-super-Mare: Harris; Smith, Avery 8, Lewis 7, Bernard 6; Kite 6 (Wood 70, 6), Cummins 7, Wilson 7 (Coulson 70, 6), Birch 8 (Johnson 87), May 6 (Hicks 70); Britton 6
Subs not used: Glover, Jagger Cane
Attendance: 973
Away fans: 206
Star Man:Kyle McAllister
MATCH STATS
FOREST GREEN V WESTON
Shots on target: 12 / 1
Shots off target: 9/ 4
Corners: 12/ 4
Offside: 1/0
Fouls: 12/ 13
Yellow cards: 2/2
