Forest Green Rovers fielded a youthful line-up at the Memorial Stadium, as they fell to a heavy defeat against a clinical Bristol Rovers side in the Gloucestershire FA Senior Cup. 

 The hosts were led out by first-team player Pablo Martinez, with a number of players having had first-team exposure for the Gas.

 The opening exchanges were largely even, with neither side able to gain control of the game early-on, but Forest Green Rovers started to increase the pressure on the hosts with a high-press which ensured a few nervy moments for the opposition back-line. 

 Hannah Dingley’s side would be handed a cruel blow in the 15th minute, as Kinsly Murray took full advantage of clever flick-on from Kieran Phillips to finish past ‘keeper Dylan John, finding the bottom-corner on his right foot. 

Just seven minutes later Murray would double his tally for the afternoon, latching onto a pass from Ollie Hulbert before unleashing a fine effort from distance to find the top-right corner past John in the Rovers’ net. 

Despite the setback, Forest Green Rovers responded superbly, getting a goal back with 24 minutes played. 

 Murphy Bennett lofted a dangerous delivery into the box which forced Bristol Rovers’ Jed Ward to pounce into action, only for the ‘keeper to punch it into the path of Joe Budd who directed it into the back of his own net. 

 Bennett would be brought down in a dangerous area with just over ten minutes remaining in the half, but Jed Ward was equal to Harvey Bunker’s right-footed effort from the set-piece. 

 Rovers continued to push for an equaliser and got into several dangerous areas, but ultimately couldn’t capitalize in the final third against a defence marshalled by captain Pablo Martinez. 

With just minutes remaining in the first half, the hosts restored their two-goal lead through forward Kieran Phillips.  

The opposition’s experience showed through for the third goal, as they caught Rovers out from a well-executed counter-attack – resulting in Phillips, who had claimed an assist for the first goal, curling his strike into the far corner from the edge of the box with 42 minutes on the clock. 

Both sides were unchanged following the break, but it would take some time before the first real chance came for Rovers following a cagey opening to the 2nd half. 

Harvey Bunker would test Ward with a strike on his right-foot just before the hour mark, but the opposition keeper was more than equal to the attempt to keep his side’s two-goal lead intact.

Despite the best efforts of Dingley’s side, there was nothing they could do about the hosts’ fourth goal of the afternoon. Zak Ford would net arguably the most impressive goal of the match, as he directed an inch-perfect half-volley into the top corner from the edge of the box in the 63rd minute. 

The Gas would net a fifth goal against the young Rovers side, whose valiant efforts weren’t fairly reflected in a one-sided scoreline. Substitute Jarmani Langlais would set up Kieran Phillips for his brace, firing a well-struck effort past Alex John with 15 minutes remaining.  

Despite their bravery and determination throughout against a more experienced Bristol Rovers side, Forest Green Rovers couldn’t manage to breakthrough to net a second-half goal and were knocked out of the Gloucestershire Senior Challenge Cup at the Memorial Stadium. 

Bristol Rovers: Ward, Ford, Jones, Lawrence, Mehew, Martinez, Murray (Sesay 75’), Budd, Hulbert (Langlais 61’), Phillips (McKayle 83’), Vaughan. 

Subs not used: Burden, Vilinauskas. 

FGR: John, Hallett, Joseph, Woodhouse (Carter 70’), McIntosh, Baxter, Bunker, Bell, Bennett, Oyebamiji (McLaughlin 61’), Crosbie. 

Subs not used: Mason, Dunn.