Forest Green Rovers completed an epic comeback in the FA Youth Cup first round, coming from 3-0 down to defeat Thame United 6-3.
A hat-trick from Olly Sully, a Luca Alonzi brace and a goal from Zach McKenzie was enough to see Rovers progress to the second round.
The first chance of the game fell to skipper Jesse Thompson, who met Fraser Bell’s corner with good contact, but his header flew wide.
Bell was involved again just a couple of minutes later, with his free-kick from 25 yards out landing in the gloves of James Swindlehurst after Olly Sully was hacked down.
But it was the hosts who took the lead after 23 minutes when a free-kick from the left found the head of Mekhi Thomas, leaving ‘keeper Josh Shattell with no chance.
It became 2-0 12 minutes later as Dan Mayor found the back of the net from inside the box with a looping effort to double Thame’s advantage.
Thame added a third in the 40th minute as Hayden Beadle bundled the ball home on the line from a set piece.
However, Rovers were handed a route back into the game just seconds later. Olly Sully emphatically converted from the penalty spot after a spot kick was awarded for a foul just inside the area.
Another set-piece nearly caught Rovers out shortly after the restart, with Sebastian D’Aversa heading wide from a corner.
Luca Alonzi got another goal back for Rovers in the 67th minute. His low shot arrowed into the bottom corner after Bell’s cross fell to him just inside the box.
Alonzi was the double eight minutes later as his powerful header from a wide free kick flew into the top corner.
Rovers completed the turnaround with just 90 seconds remaining of normal time as Zach McKenzie took aim from range, with his low strike landing in the bottom corner.
Sully added some gloss to the scoreline in stoppage-time, meeting a cutback from the right on two separate occasions to put the game beyond all doubt.
Rovers progress to the second round of the FA Youth Cup, with the draw set to be made in the coming days.
Rovers XI: Shattell; McKenzie, Thompson (C), Merrett, Bell, Sanniola, Raut, Mason, Aldridge, Sully, Alonzi.
Thame United XI: Swindlehurst; Afanu (C), Babington, Copley, Ransby, D’Aversa, Cove, Beadle, Oladunjoye, Mayor, Thomas.
