A much-changed Forest Green were beaten in the knockout stages of the Papa John’s Trophy, losing 4-1 on penalties to a fledgling Chelsea side.
Earlier, Rob Edwards made 10 tweaks to the side that beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 on Saturday. His side started brightly enough but had to wait until the 64th-minute for livewire striker Josh March to lob over the Chelsea keeper Lucas Bergstrom on 64 minutes.
However, Rovers’ lead lasted just sixty seconds as Tariq Uwakwe pounced on some statuesque defending to rifle beyond Lewis Thomas.
Chelsea were indebted to Bergstrom as the game went to penalties with only March finding the net from the spot.
Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Lucas Bergstrom; Brodie Hughes, Xavier Mbuyamba, Alfie Gilchrist; Lewis Hall, Xavier Simons (c), Lewis Baker, Tariq Uwakwe (George Nunn 79), Joe Haigh, George McEachran, Bryan Fiabema (Malik Mothersille 62).
Unused Subs: Dion Rankine, Ethan Wady, Ben Elliot, Luke Badley-Morgan, Charlie Webster.
Booked: George McEachran 52, Lewis Hall 90+1.
Scorers: Tariq Uwakwe 66
Forest Green Rovers (3-4-1-2): Lewis Thomas, Dan Sweeney (c) Udoka Godwin-Malife, Harvey Bunker; Regan Hendry, Sadou Diallo (Jack Aitchison 81), Taylor Allen, Jack Evans; Opi Edwards, Josh March, Jake Young (Matty Stevens 86).
Unused Subs: Luke McGee, Dom Bernard, Baily Cargill, Ben Stevenson, Nicky Cadden.
Scorer: Josh March 64
Star Man: Josh March – energetic from start-to-finish and deserved his goal after a super goaline clearance in the first-half.
Attendance: 1,270
The league leaders are with out a game this weekend and are next in action at Harrogate Town on Tuesday, 7.45pm.
