NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL SECOND LEG

FOREST GREEN 1 DOVER ATHLETIC 1

(Forest Green win 2-1 on aggregate)

WITH new manager Mark Cooper sat in the directors’ box, caretaker Scott Bartlett guided Forest Green to Wembley and a place in the promotion final next Sunday.

Solihull-based Cooper,48, who also managed Swindon Town and captained Rovers under former chairman Trevor Horsley, made a mad dash to the New Lawn following his last game as Notts County manager today, and is now expected to be unveiled officially on Monday on a rumoured five-year deal, but despite not wanting to be drawn on the Cooper situation, Vince confirmed Bartlett would lead the team out at Wembley.

Academy chief Bartlett has performed miracles during his second tenure as caretaker and deserves his moment in the sun.

However, the SNJ understands Vince was forced to moved quickly with Notts County keen to offer Cooper a fresh deal.

The huge ambition of Vince and Cooper’s love of Rovers will have played a significant tempting carrot in his choice of club.

Vince’s brave decision to axe boss Ady Pennock a week before the play-offs caused many raised eyebrows in the football world, but a winless run of seven games prompted his left-field move and Keanu Marsh-Brown's worldy confirmed an aggregate victory to hand his side a fighting chance of league football for the first time in their history.

Bartlett can take credit for lifting the side and guiding them to a shot at a historic chance of League Two football.

Earlier, Bartlett made two changes from the team that won the first leg on Wednesday.

James Jennings failed to recover from a knock and his place was taken by Ben Jefford and Williams, who scored a stunner in the first tie at Dover, replaced Marcus Kelly (hamstring).

Dover had the first shot in anger – Ricky Miller spinning Charlie Clough, but screwing his shot wide.

Rovers responded - Brett Williams and the fans howled for a penalty when he appeared to be tugged in the box.

It was nip and tuck. Dover’s Stefan Payne muscled his way past Aarran Racine, but couldn’t find the accuracy to trouble Steve Arnold.

Williams had the ball stuck to his feet like glue and he did well to find space to hit a stinger, which Mitch Walker smothered on 25 minutes.

Clough found himself in the book for a foul on the tricky Miller as this high tempo game became increasingly feisty.

Miller should have brought the tie level when he got in behind Clough and shot into the side-netting with just Arnold to beat with nine minutes of the first half left. Rovers responded –Keanu Marsh-Brown slicing over.

Rovers ended the half on a high. Clough got on top of the ball to plant a header over from an Elliott Frear corner – Rovers’ first half.

Dover hit the ground running and it took a superb Arnold save to deny Ricky Modeste after Miller opened Rovers up just a minute after the break.

At times it was like a game of basketball with Darren Carter this time getting his feet in a tangle as he shaped to shoot.

Dover netted parity in a somewhat fortuitous moment. Miller pulled the trigger and his shot clipped the covering Jefford and deflected past the stranded Arnold on 49 minutes.

Rovers were wobbling and needed a quick response and five minutes later the roof was raised when maverick Marsh-Brown curled a sumptuous strike beyond the groping Walker.

The excitement was almost tangible. Sam Magri smacked the underside of Arnold’s crossbar after his unconvincing punch dropped to the Dover right-back.

A scampering run from Marsh-Brown ended with a delicious cross but no Rovers player was on hand to apply the winning finish.

The play was mesmerising at times and Dover’s Miller – a thorn in Rovers’ side – somehow skewed wide with just Arnold to beat and then Chris Kinnear fired wide with the Kent outfit trying to force the tie into extra time.

Despite a few nervy moments, Rovers remained resolute to book a Wembley spot for the third time in their history and spark memorble crowd scenes with a euphoric pitch invasion.

Forest Green (4-4-1-1): Arnold, Bennett, Jefford, Racine, Clough; Sinclair, Carter (Kamdjo, 88), Frear 7 (Moore, 50), Marsh-Brown; Guthrie; Williams (Parkin 77).

Subs not used: Pidgleley, Pipe.

Attendance: 2,755

Star Man: K Marsh-Brown.