FOREST GREEN were made to work hard for a place in the FA Cup first round by Mangotsfield United.

It looked like it was going to be a comfortable afternoon for the Blue Square Premier side after the inspirational David Brown gave them the lead from the penalty spot after eight minutes but they had to wait until the 83rd minute for their next goal from winger Steven Davies.

Even then the tie wasn’t wrapped up as a determined Mangotsfield side fought to the final whistle and James Pilling gave them faint hope with a strike two minutes from time.

Mangotsfield were looking to reach the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history but their chances of causing an upset took a blow when the visitors were awarded a penalty early on.

As Danny Powell burst into the box he was barged over by Neil Arnale and Brown coolly converted from the spot.

Mangotsfield looked to hit back straight away but the unmarked Mike Trought could only head over from ten yards following Pilling’s inswinging corner.

The home side continued to press as the half went on and Kyle Tooze shot narrowly over from the edge of the box, while at the other end Sean Rigg dragged a shot just wide from ten yards on the stroke of half-time.

Rigg twice came close at the start of the second half. First, he was denied by the out-stretched right arm of former Yate goalkeeper Tony Court following a neat exchange of passes with Brown, then the on-loan Bristol Rovers striker headed over from Brown’s resultant corner.

Forest Green always looked likely to score when they went forward and eventually doubled their lead on 83 minutes when Steve Davies cut in from the left, played a neat one-two with Rigg, and fired into the bottom corner from ten yards.

Rigg won the ball straight from the restart and Brown played through to Powell, who slid the ball wide when he should have wrapped the game up.

Mangotsfield pulled a goal back with two minutes left as substitute Scott Hendy beat goalkeeper Terry Burton to the ball from a long free kick and Pilling smashed home the loose ball.

Pilling felt he should have had a penalty in injury time after going down from a Paul Stonehouse challenge but referee Mr Bennett waved the appeals away and Rovers hung on.

Mangotsfield: Court; Arndale, Scott ©, Trought, Smith (O’Connor, 55); Tooze (Wood, 76), Pilling, Bater, Allward, Knighton; Page (Hendy, 76). Subs not used: Prosser, Moore, Beazor, Alexander.

Forest Green: Burton; King, Preece, McDonald, Stonehouse ©; Davies, Smith, Hodgkiss, Brown, Powell; Rigg. Subs not used: Lloyd, Else, Carlin, Pugh, Palmer, Henry, Ford.

Att: 946 Ref: Mr A Bennett Gazette star man: David Brown (Forest Green) - Pulled the strings in a slightly deeper role than usual.

Verdict: Not the most entertaining game but Forest Green did what was required to get the job done against a Mangotsfield side who just wouldn’t lie down.

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