FOREST GREEN ROVERS:Sam Russell, Chris Stokes, Al Bangura, Jamie Turley, Yan Klukowski, Reece Styche, Magno Viera, Eddie Oshodi, Ed Asufa-Adjaye, James Norwood, Aarran Racine.
SUBS:Matthew Bulman, Jared Hodgkiss, Omar Koroma, Matty Taylor, James Rowe, Steve Brogan
PORT VALE:Chris Neal, Adam Yates, Joe Davis, Clayton McDonald, Rob Taylor, Jennison Myrie-Williams, Sam Morsy, Ryan Burge, Ashley Vincent, Louis Dodds, Tom Pope.
SUBS:Sam Johnson, Darren Murphy, Ben Williamson, Chris Shuker, Doug Loft, Kingsley James, Ryan Lloyd.
Attendance:1,753 including 729 visiting supporters
Louis Dodds returned to the starting eleven, as did Clayton McDonald after serving a one-match suspension as Vale lined up against Forest Green Rovers for the first time in a competitive match.
Ben Williamson was a little unfortunate to find himself on the bench after he became the victim of circumstances atNorthamptonlast weekend. He was joined on the Vale bench by skipper Doug Loft.
Vale started the game strongly, pegging the home side back deep inside their own half and it didn’t come as too much of a surprise when Micky Adams’ men took an early lead.
ASHLEY VINCENTshowed his determination when he went through three tackles and came out with the ball before netting his sixth goal of the season from 8 yards.
finished off a neat move.CLAYTON McDONALDVale were rewarded for their early dominance five minutes later doubling their lead when
Ryan Burge’s short corner on the right to Jennison Myrie-Williams was played straight back to Burge. The Vale midfielder crossed to the far post, Ashley Vincent knocked it down and McDonald swept the ball home.
Vale looked strong every time they went forward but in fairness to the home side they had their share of the ball, though they found it difficult to penetrate a dogged Vale defence.
Tom Pope wasn’t too far off target when he got up to meet a left wing cross from Rob Tayloer, but didn’t manage to work the goalkeeper with his header.
minute.thVale looked content to sit back for spells and were punished for defending deep when they were caught out by a long ball through the middle in the 34
JAMES NORWOODmanaged to latch on to it in a flash and despite the close attentions of Clayton McDonald, he managed to steer the ball past Chris Neal.
Forest Green made a double substitution at the start of the second half and it was the home side who started the brighter of the two.
turned the ball past Neal from 6 yards.EDDIE OSHODI minute when Vale made a hash of clearing a low right wing corner and thThe home side were on level terms in the 49
minute but Clayton McDonald was able to block on the line, with Neal beaten.thThe home side continued to cause Vale problems and looked certain to take the lead through substitute Matty Taylor in the 58
minute with Loft replacingstVale made their first change in the 71Taylorand a minute later Ben Williamson came on for Louis Dodds.
Loft was soon in action, sending a left wing cross in which caused all sorts of problems and the Forest Green ‘keeper Sam Russell did well to touch over the crossbar.
It was a rare touch of the ball for the goalkeeper, who had been a spectator for much of the second half as Vale struggled to replicate the form they displayed early on in the first half.
minute with a goal to put Vale back in the driving seat.thIt was the signal for the start of a spell of Vale pressure, which paid off in the 80
got on the end of it to leave ‘keeper Russell with no chance.BEN WILLIAMSONRyan Burge curled in a right wing corner and
minute.thVale made their third and final substitution when Chris Shuker came on to replace Jennison Myrie-Williams in the 85
The home side pushed bodies forward in the hope of grabbing an equaliser but it was all to no avail. It will be the name of Port Vale in the draw for the next round.