ROVERS RIDE OUT ON DOIDGE
REVENGE was sweet for Forest Green Rovers as the League Two outfit dumped Macclesfield Town out of the FA Cup at the New Lawn.
Knocked out of the FA Trophy at the quarter-final stage by the Silkmen last season, Rovers avenged that defeat thanks to a 41st-minute strike from Christian Doidge.
Forest Green's leading scorer converted Scott Laird’s cross from close range to break the deadlock and make it four wins from as many matches for Mark Cooper's in-form team.
Rovers chief Cooper is now setting his sights on reaching the third round and landing a glamour tie against a Premier League giant.
He said: “You really want to get to the third round because a big tie at that stage can help raise the profile of the club.
“It can also make you a lot of money and that can influence what you do in January.
“I'd like to draw a non-League side at home next – something that gives us a realistic chance to get through to the third round.
“For now, I'm just pleased to be in the hat because some good sides have gone out.”
Also top of the Forest Green scoring charts last season, Doidge has found goals harder to come by since ascending to League Two but he ended a tenmatch drought when netting in a recent 2-1 win at Stevenage and came into this game with his confidence renewed.
He issued a clear warning to Macclesfield in the 15th minute, clipping the top of the crossbar with a rising shot after being played in by Reece Brown.
When opportunity next came knocking shortly before halftime, the Welshman was unerring, turning the ball in from close range following a lightning-quick exchange of passes with overlapping leftback Scott Laird.
He should have doubled the lead in time added on at the end of the first period, sliding in at the back post and shooting wide from six yards with the goal at his mercy.
Neat and tidy in their approach play, the Silkmen lacked an end product and seriously tested Brad Collins only once, the loan signing from Chelsea making a crucial save with his feet to deny Dan Whitehead.
Macclesfield boss John Askey thought that his National League high-fliers, who finished 18 points behind eventual play-off winners Forest Green last term, didn’t do too much wrong on the day.
He said: “I can’t say we didn’t break them down but we missed chances when they came along.
“We’ve given away a poor goal but I think we’ve come up against League opposition and made a good show of it.
“There’s nothing in it, apart from our finishing.
“When you look back on the game, I think you’ll find we had most of the chances but I’m really pleased with how we played. “I think anyone who has been here would be pleased with our performance.”