FOR a third consecutive season, Forest Green exited the Gloucestershire Senior Cup at the quarter-final stage after losing a penalty shootout against minnows Yate Town, writes Richard Joyce.

Ady Pennock fielded a mixture of first team and Academy players and his team appeared to be on their way to a semi-final tie but Joe Chandler’s fizzing 25-yard strike squeezed in under Paul White’s crossbar to draw the Bluebells level and take the game to penalties.

The shootout began miserably for Rovers when Chris Stokes and Christian Jolley saw their attempts saved.

Academy duo Joe Stokes and Louis McGrory restored some pride with perfect spot kicks, however Magno Vieira’s final attempt was stopped by Martin Horsell and Yate went through to face Bishop’s Cleeve or Shortwood United in the next round.

Earlier, Chris Stokes, left out of the first team squad at Torquay on Saturday, was successful from the penalty spot during the first half when he sent Martin Horsell the wrong way after James Fisher’s positive run ended with him being taken down just inside the area.

Rovers doubled their advantage shortly after when Vieira struck. The Brazilian did brilliantly to bypass two Yate tackles and his final attempt took a deflection on its way in.

FOREST GREEN: P White, D Pipe, C Stokes, L Oliver, C Pirie, J Stokes, L McGrory, C Jolley, J Fisher, M Vieira, K Youngsam, J Richardson, S Bevan, L Wright, J Allen, C Meare.