FA CUP THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND

FGR ACADEMY 1

OXFORD CITY U18s 2

TWO Oxford City goals in eight second-half minutes ended Forest Green’s FA Youth Cup aspirations.

Scott Bartlett’s Rovers were pleasing on the eye in the first half, but Oxford responded after the break, and despite a late Giancarlo Gabbiadini strike, they held on to reach the first round proper.

Earlier, Rovers’ academy keeper Tyler Edmunds did well to put up a strong glove to deny a fizzing Horatio Hirst shot inside the opening minutes.

Rovers responded – Gabbiadini  demanding a parry from Jake Pritchard following a Jordan Stevens slide- rule pass and then Gabbiadini flashed his right-footer wide of the inviting net.

Rovers got closer to breaking the first-half stalemate - Kalem Marsh planted a curler onto the crossbar after a period of neat passing football.

Bartlett’s side were bossing it – Morris bringing the best out of Pritchard with a sumptuous strike from outside the box, after a driving run.

Gabbiadini smacked one over the bar following neat footwork from Kray Foster, but a swift Oxford break saw Edmunds show great reflexes to blunt the dangerous Hirst from point-blank range.

However, Oxford were proving a tough nut to crack. Foster was thwarted by last-gasp Josh Dobbins’ defending.

On the cusp of the break the impressive Edmunds clutched a header from Hirst as Oxford showed late intent.

A training ground corner almost paid dividends for Rovers, but Pritchard gloved a Gabbiadini stinger to safety.

Oxford started the second period with purpose and nosed ahead on 50 minutes – Jack Tutton planting a free-kick beyond Edmunds.

And Rovers pressed the self-destruct button eight minutes later when Kei Chamberlain picked Will Davidson’s pocket to plant a strike over Edmunds.

However, they found a way back into the game with six minutes remaining. Stevens released Morris, who slipped through the gears to allow Gabbiadini the chance to rifle home.

Oxford almost made it three on 90 minutes, Michael Mattimore turning and hitting the foot of the post.

Forest Green Academy: T Edmunds; W Davidson (E Royer, 59) L Curtis, H Rutty, A Hallett, K Marsh ( I Jones, 73), J Stevens, K Foster, G Gabbiadini, T Anderson, J Morris.

Star Man: Tyler Edmunds.