Rovers cruise into FA Trophy quarter finals (From Stroud News and Journal)

Rovers cruise into FA Trophy quarter finals

Dover Athletic 0, Forest Green Rovers 3 ROVERS' journey towards a third FA Trophy Final continued with a comfortable win at The Crabble, home of Dr Marten's Premier Division side Dover Athletic.

Two goals before the break and another immediately after saw the Conference club cruise into the quarter finals with another trip possible to Villa Park this coming May.

Manager Colin Addison certainly wasn't taking Dover lightly as they had already deposed two Conference sides, Gravesend and Scarborough, in previous rounds.

The scouts had been out and the homework done as he selected a strong attacking team with Neil Grayson returning from injury, replacing Steve Jenkins who unfortunately started a two match ban.

Kevin Langan passed a late fitness test after feeling ill in the morning, and slotted into the backline.

Rovers looked comfortable straight from the start and should have taken the lead on ten minutes, Martin Foster, so influential in midfield, floated in a free-kick but striker Kayode Odejayi might have tested the keeper better with a right-footed volley.

At the other end keeper Steve Perrin was kept on his toes with a good attempt by Tommy Tyne but it was to be a quiet afternoon for the Rovers' number one.

Alex Meechan had already tested Dovers' Paul Hyde with a stinging shot on the turn before becoming provider on 24 minutes. A neat through ball split open the home backline for Foster to nip in, his shot taking a fortuitous deflection off captain Danny Chapman to sneak wide of the keeper and into the net.

It was no surprise when Rovers increased their lead just before the interval, again Foster provided the telling ball with a cross to Grayson who had time to turn the ball back into the path of Odejayi.

With no challenge the striker let loose a 15 yard half volley that left the keeper motionless, Rovers two up and Kayode's 13th goal of the season.

The match was all but over a minute after the break, Ben Cleverley's cross seemed to have evaded Grayson and was going clear, only for defender Steve Norman to guide the ball over the by-line with his outstretched hand.

Despite the strong objections from the Dover players, referee Mr Graham took the advice from his assistant and awarded an obvious spot kick.

Up stepped Grayson to fire home straight down the centre to become equal top scorer with Odejayi with goal number 13 of the season.

With a comfortable 3-0 margin Rovers closed up shop, Rob Cook had come on at half-time with Langan still feeling unwell and towards the end Steve Tweddle and Simon Futcher were given a run.

Dover's impressive cup run was finally over, and with only ten men left on the pitch, in the closing minutes Andy Arnott's two-footed tackle on Grayson was adjudged to have been dangerous and the referee decided to wave the red card.

Martin Foster won the plaudit man of the match, and the long journey home was all the better for a good job done and a coveted place in the FA Trophy quarter finals.

Team: Perrin, M Russell (Futcher 88), Jones, Richardson, Owers, Cleverley, Langan (Cook 46), Foster, Grayson (Tweddle 85), Meechan, Odejayi. Subs not used: Sykes, Giannangelo. Attendance: 932.