FA TROPHY

Chester 0

Forest Green 2

A STUNNING Marcus Kelly brace helped Forest Green make it into last sixteen of the FA Trophy and a step closer to Wembley.

Restored to the team, Kelly fizzed in two beauties in each half as Rovers posted their seventh consecutive win over Chester.

Pre-match candour from boss Mark Cooper revealed the departure of striker Kieffer Moore to Championship outfit Ipswich Town and the news that Elliott Frear had played his last game for the club.

Cooper made three changes to the team held at Eastleigh. Darren Carter, Fabien Robert and Marcus Kelly were handed starts for this second round tie in Cheshire.

Captain Liam Noble, Ethan Pinnock and Keanu Marsh-Brown dropped to the bench with Dale Bennett taking the armband. Sam Wedgbury, injured since April, made a welcome return to take a place in the dugout.

Rovers started on the front foot. Kelly sliding over a delicious ball across the box, which failed to see a Forest Green player apply a finishing touch.

Chances were scarse in the opening 25 minutes, but Sam Russell had to be on his mettle to touch a teasing Elliott Durrell free-kick over from under his bar.

The game sprung to life.

Chester goalkeeper Alex Lynch plucked the ball out of the air from a measured Christian Doidge header after Rob Sinclair’s floated pass. And Lynch was on the money with 11 minutes of the half remaining - going down well to thwart a Robert stinger.

Chester responded. James Alabi released Durrell who was afforded space in midfield to run on and thump one over Russell’s bar.

However, it was Rovers who broke the deadlock on the cusp of the break with a goal of sublime passing quality from the left-footed boot of Kelly, who arrowed a sumptuous left-foot peach into the top corner from 25 yards.

Chester started the second period with intent and only the body of Russell thwarted Tom Shaw from a perceptive Durrell dink.

Shaw was left to rue his miss as Rovers turned the screw.

Rovers’ riposte was immediate – Kelly repeating his first-half stunner with another stunning curler over Lynch for a 58th-minute second.

Rovers comfortably saw the game out and Wedgbury was given a late and welcome return to action with two minutes to go.

Forest Green: Russell; Bennett, Monthe, Clough, Wishart (Pinnock 59); Sinclair, Carter (Noble,79), Cooper (Wedgbury, 88); Kelly, Doidge, Robert.

Subs not used: Marsh-Brown, Traore.

Attendance: 1,250

FGR fans: 41

Star Man: Marcus Kelly.