Forest Green Rovers 1, Macclesfield Town 1 (aet)

Macclesfield won 11-10 on penalties

FOREST Green Rovers were cruelly knocked out of the FA Cup on Wednesday night after losing by 11 penalties to ten in the shoot-out against third division Macclesfield at The Lawn.

The loss also meant that Rovers missed out on £20,000 prize money and a second round home draw against Swansea City this weekend.

In an extraordinary shoot-out scene, every player from both sides took a penalty. Alex Meechan missed Rovers' second kick but Rickie Lambert, who was the hero on Saturday for Town with a hat-trick against Luton, had his effort saved by Steve Perrin immediately afterwards.

Every player then successfully converted (including both goalkeepers) and the unfortunate miss came from midfielder Kevin Langan who blazed his second penalty over the bar.

And experienced striker Lee Glover was the Macclesfield hero when he coolly stepped up to slot the ball past Perrin.

Nigel Spink's side will feel hard done by with the result after a superb performance by the Conference team. Spink said: "It's a travesty that we have been beaten in such a way because I thought that we were the better team over the two games.

"I am pleased with the lads and for me our unbeaten run has gone on." Rovers were the better team on the night and had the chance to win the game in extra-time when they were awarded a penalty for handball, but Mark Cooper's spot-kick was saved by Town keeper Steve Wilson.

The opening goal of the replay came in the 29th minute when Rovers were awarded a free-kick 25-yards from goal after a foul on Meechan. Cooper placed the ball and hit an absolute screamer of a shot into the net to send most of the 1,714 crowd wild.

A minute later, Kayode Odejayi had a great chance to double the lead. Martin Foster sent over a corner and Odejayi directed header towards goal but could only watch as it hit a post and rebound away.

But the visitors hit back three minutes later with an equally superb goal. Rovers' defender Lee Howey mis-judged a header and former West Ham man Kevin Keen got to the ball first to lob Perrin for the equaliser.

Carl Heggs came on for Odejayi early in the second half and he injected life into the Rovers' attack, although, with neither side able to get the winner, the game went into extra time.

Seven minutes into the first period of extra time, Rovers were awarded a penalty when David Ridler handled in the box. Cooper stepped up and hit a powerful shot which Wilson saved superbly.

Macclesfield had the better chances later on and Rovers held on, but could not secure their first win against a Football League club. Macclesfield boss David Moss, obviously delighted with the result, was impressed with Forest Green.

His reaction was: "This is a tough place to come and they are a good side. I think Forest Green were a credit to Nigel Spink and they will feel hard done by, but they were magnificent tonight."

Forest Green Rovers 2, Scarborough 2

FOREST Green Rovers bounced back from their cup disappointment with a spirited draw on Saturday in the Conference thanks to a spectacular injury time equaliser from captain Mark Cooper.

Injuries and suspension forced a series of changes by manager Nigel Spink but the reorganised team defied the wet and heavy conditions plus the disappointment of the previous game to bounce back with a creditable draw and another point in the bag.

Carl Heggs put Rovers ahead in the first two minutes when he beat the offside before steering the ball into the net.

Both sides had further chances to re-arrange the scoreline in the first half, with Scarborough notably hitting the bar before equalising just before the interval when slack marking allowed David Pounder to hit a good goal from the edge of the box.

Martin Foster was booked for a bad two-footed challenge, which also led to bookings for two Scarborough players who took umbrage at the tackle. With Rovers visibly tiring, the visitors took the lead when Perrin dropped a catch and Richard Drysden fired the loose ball home.

Spink threw everyone forward in a desperate attempt to salvage the game and in the closing minutes of the game Cooper hit a spectacular overhead kick to level the match.

For more Rovers news, see this weeks SNJ