FA TROPHY

MACCLESFIELD TOWN 1

FOREST GREEN 0

FOREST GREEN’S FA Trophy Wembley hopes were dashed at Macclesfield.

Danny Whitehead’s deflected strike on 12 minutes proved the difference as the Silkmen made it into the quarter-finals.

Rovers were rocked just after the break with top scorer Christian Doidge forced off with a side injury.

Unchanged from their dramatic league victory at Barrow, Forest Green were a whisker away from grabbing a second-minute opener. Captain Liam Noble clipped in a teasing free-kick for Doidge to ping a thumping header onto the post, with Macclesfield keeper Scott Flinders clawing the rebound clear.

Rovers were bossing possession, but fell behind to a fortuitous Whitehead deflected strike off defender Mark Ellis on 12 minutes to leave faultless keeper Sam Russell completely wrong-footed.

Rovers responded. Ethan Pinnock’s leggy run finished with Flinders dropping on his fizzer from just outside the box and Dan Wishart induced a decent save from Flinders following a delicious Noble set play.

Rovers were looking for a way back into the tie. Speedster Kaiyne Woolery’s lung-busting run was ended by a foul on the edge of the box, but Jake Gosling’s subsequent curling left-footed free-kick landed on the roof of the net.

For all the ball play, Rovers were almost caught out when Mitch Hancox let fly, with Russell pushing the ball away and into Whitehead’s path, but his follow up kissed the post when scoring would have been easier.

On the cusp of the break, Rovers’ Noble and Macclesfield’s Kingsley James traded yellow cards.

Rovers were almost caught cold after the break – Hancox profligate with his finishing.

With 50 minutes gone, Rovers were forced to take Doidge off, the striker clutching his side. Keanu Marsh-Brown came on to take Doidge’s place up front and quickly tested Flinders from the edge of the box.

Rovers huffed and puffed - Ellis rattled one into the advertising boards.

Doidge’s penalty box impact was missed and giant defender Manny Monthe was pushed forward to add some muscle.

A moment of brilliance was needed and Noble nearly found it with a curling free-kick - and then Pinnock glanced wide from another Noble deliver as the clocked ticked.

Rovers were dominant with the ball, but in a rare foray, Macclesfield’s Chris Holroyd beat the offside trap, but Russell stood up well.

With five minutes of added time left, Rovers went for broke with defenders Pinnock and Ellis pushed up top.

Pinnock, Ellis and Cooper all went close, but Flinders stood up to everything Rovers chucked at them.

FOREST GREEN: Russell; Bennett, Ellis, Wishart, Pinnock; Sinclair, Noble, Cooper; Gosling ( Monthe, 61), Doidge (Marsh-Brown, 50), Woolery ( Robert, 90).

Subs not used:Carter, Wedgbury.

Attendance: 967

Away fans: 53

Referee: Peter Wright

Star Man: Ethan Pinnock.