FA CUP SECOND ROUND REPLAY

EXETER CITY 2 FOREST GREEN 1

FOREST GREEN suffered FA Cup extra-time replay heartache as Exeter City earned a third-round tie with Premier League West Brom.

Hot-shot Christian Doidge's scruffy first-half penalty was cancelled out by Pierce Sweeney who also struck from the spot for the Grecians before Jayden Stockley won it for the hosts in the dying embers of this topsy-turvy clash.

In an explosive tie, Rovers and City were reduced to 10 men with Mark Cooper’s side suffering a numerical disadvantage for the fourth consecutive match as Manny Monthe, back from suspension, saw red again on 109 minutes. Earlier, Exeter’s Jordan Tillson received his marching orders.

Injury and suspension stricken Forest Green were once again without key midfield duo Drissa Traore and Isaiah Osbourne. Dale Bennett and Jack Fitzwater miss out due to suspension along with Alex Iacovitti, who has returned to his parent club Nottingham Forest for treatment on a hamstring injury picked up in the defeat at Grimsby Town on Saturday.

Rookie teenage midfielder Jordan Stevens was drafted in for his first start and Rovers were boosted by the return of maverick Keanu Marsh-Brown.

Wounded and with a patched up side, it was Rovers who started on the front foot and on a night for the underdog, it was Cooper’s side who had the bit between their teeth.

And Rovers nosed ahead in the 30th minute. And it was 17-year-old Stevens who conjured Doidge’s penalty chance. The Gloucester-born fledgling opened Exeter up for Doidge to take a tumble in the box. His strike from the spot went under the dive of Christy Pym for his 12 goal in eleven games.

FGR had another chance before the break as Marsh-Brown’s 37th minute cross almost found Wishart at the back-post but for some outstanding defending by Pierce Sweeney.

The hosts started to grow into the game as the first 10 minutes of the second half ticked by but they couldn’t create any real opportunities.

Another strong Wishart run almost found Doidge after 58 minutes, his powerful cross just evading the striker’s outstretched leg.

The night would then get worse for the hosts just after the hour mark as Jordan Tillson’s clumsy challenge on Toni Gomes earned him his second yellow of the night.

Doidge then had two shots on goal within the next five minutes, the first was tipped over and the second was also well saved by Pym.

Then, after 72 minutes it was Exeter’s turn to be awarded as pot kick as Keanu Marsh-Brown pulled down Jordan Moore-Taylor as he attempted to beat him down the left-hand side. Rovers held onto the ball for the remainder of the 90 minutes but were unable to fashion a clear cut opportunity.

The hosts had the first chance of extra time as Craig Woodman’s cross was headed powerfully onto the post by Jake Taylor. Exeter then almost found the net again after 94 minutes as Moore-Taylor couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet inside the six-yard-box and Brad Collins was able to pounce.

Charlie Cooper then almost found the net from range as his shot from outside the area flashed inches wide.

Monthe was the given his marching orders after 109 minutes for, just like his opposite number, a second bookable offence.

With just five minutes of added time to go, Rovers were left to rue missed opportunities as Hiram Boateng’s cross was nodded home by Exeter’s leading marksman Stockley to send the hosts through.