FA CUP FIRST ROUND

FOREST GREEN 0

SCUNTHORPE UNITED 2

FOREST Green showed plenty of spirit but failed to conjure up an FA Cup upset as Scunthorpe United made it into the hat for the second round.

Two deflected strikes from former Premier League star Gary McSheffrey in either half saw the League One outfit home.

Earlier Forest Green boss Ady Pennock made two tweaks to his starting line-up, with Sam Wedgbury back from suspension in central midfield and Kurtis Guthrie replacing Luke Rodgers up front.

A frenetic opening almost saw the Iron make the perfect start inside sixty seconds. Lyle Taylor collected a knock down from Adelakun, but Sam Russell showed sharp reflexes to beat away his strike at the near post.

Rovers were all huff and puff with the impish James Norwood always a threat. However, for all their vim and vigor, Rovers were at times slipshod in possession.

Russell was at it again when he moved well to block another Adelakun hit after he easily weaved his way into the penalty box.

Nonetheless, Russell was beaten in fortuitous circumstances on 21 minutes. Captain Danny Coles’ pass to Wedgbury saw the Rovers’ midfielder pick-pocketed for McSheffrey to see his strike clip defender Eddie Oshodi and loop over the back-peddling Russell.

Despite the goal setback, Rovers rallied. Norwood’s ball into the box appeared to hit Neal Bishop’s hand, but the penalty protests were waived away.

Rovers continued to hold sway and came close to 32nd minute parity. Wedgbury, who bossed the midfield with authority, picked out the jet-healed Norwood, who beat his man to find Elliott Frear, who volleyed over from just inside the box.

Former Scunthorpe loanee Jon Parkin was struggling to make an impact and the well-shackled striker picked up a booking on the cusp of the interval, after he tangled with Andrew Boyce.

Scunthorpe manager Mark Robins brought on former Bristol City and Cheltenham Town winger Jennison Myrie-Williams for Adelakun at half-time, but it was Forest Green who looked the livelier. Guthrie had a strong claim for a penalty after he took a tumble in the box under the over-zealous attention of Marcus Williams.

Rovers remained in pole position. Oshodi and the impressive Dale Bennett turned defence into attack for Norwood to see his fizzer blocked from an astute Parkin pass, but the free hit saw Wedgbury fired high, wide and not very handsome.

Thirty-five places separate the two teams but it was hardly evident with Rovers hunting parity. A sumptuous turn from Parkin saw Norwood toe-poke wide.

However, they were given a mountain to climb when McSheffrey cut in from the right and the former Birmingham City winger saw his strike deflect of Coles and leave Russell rooted for a 60th minute second.

Rovers looked for a route back into the game as they made a double substitution with Lee Hughes and Christian Jolley coming on for Parkin and Frear.

Hughes made a positive impact as he played in Norwood who sent a shot narrowly wide.

Despite their dominance it was Scunthorpe who nearly made the game safe.

Former Yeovil Town striker Paddy Madden won a corner after a delightful through ball from Isaian Osbourne and from the McSheffrey set-play, Myrie-Williams hit a stunning volley from the edge of the box that came crashing back off the bar.

Again Rovers replied. That man Norwood arrowed a ball into box for veteran Hughes to see his strike blocked for Bennett to follow-up and smash over the bar with nine minutes to go.

Rovers were beaten but Jolley and Clovis Kamadjo came close from the creative feet of the outstanding Norwood.

FOREST GREEN: Russell, Bennett, Oshodi, Coles, Kelly, Norwood, Wedgbury (Kamdjo 80), Sinclair, Frear (Jolley 65), Guthrie, Parkin (Hughes 65).

Subs not used: Pipe, Stokes, Oliver, Rodgers.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED: Slocombe, Nolan, Boyce, Llera, Williams, Adelakun (Myrie-Williams 46), Bishop, Osbourne (McAllister 72), McSheffrey (Kee 68), Taylor, Madden.

Subs not used: Olejnik, Brisley, Hawkridge, Wootton.

Attendance: 1,791 (374 from Scunthorpe).

Star Man: James Norwood.