IT took a while for the fans of Forest Green to buy fully into the alternative-thinking of chairman Dale Vince.

Enticed to the club by the constant nagging of his sports massage therapist, the softly-spoken green energy tycoon salvaged a club on the brink of administration. Now, four years on, Wembley and a place in the Football League are on the horizon.

Forest Green face a mouth-watering Vanarama Conference semi-final double-header against West Country rivals Bristol Rovers. The first leg is at the New Lawn this evening, Wednesday, at 7.45pm, followed by a second-leg trip to the Memorial Ground for a 12.45pm kick-off on Sunday, May 3.

Vince hardly curried favour at the start of his reign and tested the taste buds of the New Lawn faithful by pulling meat off the menu. If that was hard to stomach he changed the kit, the club badge and renamed the road to the stadium Another Way.

Fast- forward to 2015 and the Rovers’ followers have taken him to their hearts.

His beaming smile and that of the exuberant and vociferous fans showed a united front as Rovers reached the play-offs for the first time in their history by fighting out a nervy 0-0 draw with Dover, pipping Macclesfield to the final play-off spot by a point. All this despite a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player at Southport on the opening day of the season.

Delighted Forest Green boss Ady Pennock paid tribute to the man who appointed him last year with a directive to reach the play-offs.

“It’s all about the football club today and about Dale (Vince) and what he’s achieved here.

“Dale has been brilliant for me and I can’t thank him enough. He deserves this success and long may it continue.”

Despite Rovers taking four League points off the Pirates, including a memorable win in Bristol, Darrell Clarke’s side will start the game as firm favourites for a place at Wembley and a return to the Football League. The Gas, who boast former Forest Green striker Matty Taylor in their ranks, finished runners-up, 12 points ahead of fifth-placed Forest Green.

Pennock is more than happy with the tag of underdogs.

He said: “Nobody will fancy us against Bristol Rovers, but I think that will suit us. They are a big club with fantastic support and we’re just a little club on top of a hill, but we have two massive cup finals now, so we will see.”

Forest Green were far from slick on the final day of the 46-match League programme.

With Rob Sinclair (groin) passing a late fitness test, Rovers were unchanged but were again without Marcus Kelly (calf).

They started nervously against a plucky Dover Athletic side with just pride to play for.

Dover threatened early on, but Kurtis Guthrie settled the nerves with a trademark surging run and earned a corner, taken by Sinclair, from which Aarran Racine nodded wide.

Rovers gained a foothold with the impressive David Pipe bossing midfield.

Neat play from wingman Elliott Frear saw hot-shot Jon Parkin volley over. Two minutes later Pipe’s headed pass allowed Dale Bennett to scamper down the wing for Parkin to clip his shot wide.

Rovers looked odds-on to break the deadlock. Sinclair helped the ball on, but Rafferty produced a plunging save from a Frear cross.

Dover had their chances and it was ‘hearts in the mouth’ time when Stefan Payne fired over with only Steve Arnold to beat.

Rovers suffered an injury blow on 30 minutes when left-back Tom Bender pulled up with a hamstring injury.

Pipe was forced to take Bender’s position and the home captain watched Parkin flick his torpedo long throw over the bar.

Pennock has been lambasted for leaving out goalkeeper Sam Russell, but replacement Arnold grew in stature and he did well to block Tom Murphy’s stoppage-time strike.

With Macclesfield losing 1-0 to Torquay at the break, Rovers knew they were in the driving seat and they started the second half in rude health.

Parkin went close again and Stuart Fleetwood let fly from 25 yards.

Stefan Payne tried his luck from distance for Dover, but the visitors should have been ahead just past the hour. Tom Murphy got inside Bennett, but Arnold stood up well to smother Murphy’s effort.

With 15 minutes remaining news filtered through that Macclesfield had snatched an equaliser at Torquay.

Nerves began to jangle as Dover poured forward. Murphy fluffed his lines again with nine minutes to go, but Rovers hung on thanks to a crucial block from Pipe and a strong punch from Arnold.

Pennock added: “It was a little bit tense at the end when we heard that Macclesfield had equalised – someone told me that they’d scored again and I thought ‘here we go’.

“We’ve beaten loads of records this season – highest ever position, record number of points and created history by reaching the play-offs.”