Gloucestershire Senior Challenge Cup semi-final

Bristol Rovers 3

Forest Green  4

By Richard Joyce

BRETT Williams and Kieffer Moore fired a reminder to boss Ady Pennock as they helped Forest Green to the Gloucestershire Senior Cup final.

The striking duo have been consigned to places on the bench in recent National League games but they both bagged braces at Bristol Rovers to win a seven-goal thriller at the Memorial Ground.

Williams notched two times before the break, and Moore also added two fine goals after half-time, to earn Jamie Day and Scott Bartlett’s side a final against either Bishop’s Cleeve or Slimbridge.

Football League side Bristol Rovers, included Lee Mansell, Willy Puddy and international duo Jake Gosling and Rory Fallon.

Rovers side numbered seven first-team players and several members of the Academy set-up, who once again demonstrated their exciting potential.

A slow start saw the hosts force the first telling opportunity, as Jay Malpas was denied by a good Dale Eve stop after the Pirates midfielder had nicked the ball outside the area.

And Eve was again in action minutes later when he produced a good stop to deny Blake Davies.

Forest Green went in front with the first of Williams’ excellent finishes.

He was set clear down the middle and he fired calmly past former Cheltenham Town keeper Puddy.

After New Zealand international Fallon had headed two good chances wide towards the end of the half, Forest Green extended their lead with another fine Williams strike.

A long diagonal pass from Jack Holmes found the front man on the left- hand side, and he burst through to drill an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner.

The gap between the two sides could have been increased further only minutes after half time.

Second year defender Macauley Dodson rose brilliantly to meet Anthony Jeffrey’s excellent cross, but his attempt zipped just inches over the bar.

And Marcus Kelly then stung the gloves of Puddy with a well crafted left- footed hit only a couple of minutes later.

The Football League side ensured they’d quickly punish FGR for not taking their early second half chances when Davies powered in a quick-fire brace.

His first on 52 minutes came when he seized on the ball in the box, while the leveller saw the young forward finish well past a helpless Eve.

Two brilliant goals in quick succession from Moore restored FGR’s two-goal advantage minutes later.

He firstly finished off Jeffrey’s brilliant cross at the near post, and then produced a fine finish four minutes later past the outstretched dive of Puddy.

Academy first year attacker Tom Anderson replaced Jeffrey for the final quarter of an hour, and his dug out cross was very nearly headed home by Williams for his treble, only for it to flash past the far post.

Ollie Mehew was thrown on as a substitute by the hosts as they searched for a way back into the game, and the young forward notched with an easy finish in front of goal to add the games seventh goal.

The home side couldn’t snatch the late equaliser they need to take the clash through to penalty kicks though, and FGR held on, to make it to the final.

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): W Puddy; T Little, A Kilgour, B Confrey (G Corp, 83), D Greenslade; R Broom, L Mansell (O Mehew, 75), J Malpas, J Gosling; R Fallon, B Davies.

Subs not used: K Hodges, E Green, S Blake.

Forest Green: (4-4-2) D Eve; J Holmes, E Ripley, M Dodson, B Jefford; A Jeffrey (T Anderson, 78), D Pipe, J Stokes (W Hayward, 90), M Kelly; B Williams, K Moore (G Gabbiadini, 83).

Subs not used: L Pidgeley, M Evans.

Referee: S Shaw.

Star Player: Brett Williams.