AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Forest Green Rovers: FA Cup Round One match report

09 November 2015 10:02

Forest Green snatch second round spot with late Elliot Frear strike.

Elliot Frear scored a wonderful solo goal, deep into added time to dump AFC Wimbledon out of the FA cup.

Forest Green Rover, the Conference league leaders are 15 places below the Dons who are 10th in League Two.

The game got off to a flyer as Rovers took the lead after Keanu Marsh-Brown tackled a Dons defender inside the box and passed to Darren Carter to strike a deflected shot over Ben Wilson.

After the goal Wimbledon fans called for their team to relax and take control of the game, which they did. Steve Arnold, who was making his first start for Rovers since the summer, due to injury, was unable to keep a clean sheet as Wimbledon stretched the play to find Callum Kennedy free to find the top corner.

Neal Ardley’s side had the ball in the net but for the referee to blow for a foul by Tom Elliot on Arnold.

Rovers again started the better after the break and came very close to getting a second. Marsh-Brown crossed to unmarked Charlie Clough, for his header to hit the crossbar.

But again this seemed to wake the home side who then started to put Arnold and Forest Green’s defence under pressure. On the hour mark Arnold was forced to make a double save, to deny Lyle Taylor and Sean Rigg.

Rigg arguably had the best chance after he was found on the right side of the box but his shot was fired wide.

As the game went into extra time the game sung towards Forest Green as the conference side started to sense the game was for the taking. A chance from goal scorer Carter free kick was met by James Jennings at the back post but was unable to apply the finish.

Then came Frear’s moment, as several moves failed to hit the target, Frear took it upon himself to cut inside and hit a low shot from the edge of the box with enough power to get past the wanting Wimbledon keeper. Wimbledon almost managed to force a replay but Paul Robinson was only able to put his free header wide.

Forest Green Rovers are now only 90 minutes away from the potential to face a Premier League opponent. Wimbledon will now want to bounce back in their League two tie away to Portsmouth.

AFC Wimbledon: Wilson, Kennedy (Beere 77), Robinson, Osbourne, Fuller, Bulman (Toonga 68), Reeves, Rigg, Meades, Elliot (Azeez 69), Taylor. Unused subs: Sweeney, McDonnell, Gallagher, Kaja.

Forest Green Rovers: Arnold, Jennings, Bennett, Clough, Racine, Wedgbury, Marsh-Brown (Kelly 82), Frear, Carter, Sinclair (Pipe 89), Parkin (Guthrie 74). Unused subs: Maxted, Jones, Bender, Baldwin.

Referee: Graham Horwood

Att: 2,465

Source: DSG