Ebbsfleet’s Sean Shields, blue, is surrounded by Cheltenham Town players during last night’s FA Cup first round replay
TYRONE Barnett’s diving header and an injury-time strike from Alex Addai were enough to take Cheltenham safely through to the second round of the FA Cup at the expense of Ebbsfleet.
The replay was goalless at the break as the National League side once again gave a bright account of themselves, but Barnett’s second goal in four days put Michael Duff ’s Robins on course and Addai’s injurytime effort secured a second-round trip to Accrington Stanley.
Buoyed by their 3-0 win at Notts County on Saturday, Cheltenham made the brighter start and Chris Clements fired wide from a good position in the 16th minute, and a cross from Jordon Forster was put wide by Barnett four minutes later.
Ebbsfleet nearly opened the scoring on the break in the 34th minute, with Corey Whitely denied by Scott Flinders’ block as Cheltenham were nearly caught out.
Ryan Broom was close to breaking the deadlock in the 41st minute, but his effort was just wide after Chris Hussey’s cross was palmed to him by Nathan Ashmore 12 yards out.
The first goal finally arrived in the 66th minute when Addai, who had just gone on from the bench, beat his man and crossed from the left.
It was helped on by Varney and headed in by a diving Barnett for his third goal of the season.
Danny Kedwell had a sight of goal for Ebbsfleet late on, but Will Boyle blocked well twice in the box as Cheltenham made it six games unbeaten in all competitions with a fourth successive clean sheet.
The away side’s misery was compounded in the 82nd minute when Sam Magri was sent off for two yellow cards in quick succession, one for a foul on Addai and the second for dissent.
And Addai tapped in the second deep into stoppage-time after Varney’s low shot was parried.
Forest Green Rovers are out of the FA Cup as Oxford secured a secondround date with Plymouth after goals from James Henry, Jamie Mackie and Marcus Browne earned them a 3-0 victory at the New Lawn.
Karl Robinson’s side nosed ahead on 35 minutes when Cameron Brannagan’s shot from the edge of the box was parried by goalkeeper James Montgomery, but fell to Henry to turn home the loose ball.
Rovers were stung two minutes after half-time as delicate feet from Josh Ruffels cut Mark Cooper’s side open for Mackie to prod home and Oxford substitute Browne wrapped the tie up on 78 minutes, drilling in from inside the box.
Earlier, Forest Green really should have opened the scoring on 14 minutes. Lloyd James arrowed in a free-kick on a plate for Tahvon Campbell, but he could not convert.
Scotland clinched a Nations League C play-off place thanks to James Forrest’s superb hat-trick against Israel in a 3-2 win.
That match against Finland at Hampden in March 2020, and a potential final for a Euro 2020 place, will only be required if the Scots are unsuccessful in next year’s qualifiers.
Beram Kayal fired Israel in front, but Forrest netted twice before the break to put Scotland ahead.
The winger struck a third time before Eran Zahavi’s reply and Allan McGregor’s save to deny Tomer Hemed an equaliser.
Weston-super-Mare remain at the bottom of National League South following a 1-1 draw with fellowstrugglers East Thurrock last night.
Weymouth returned to the top of the Southern League Premier Division, bumping Taunton back down to second spot, with a 2-1 win at home to third-placed Salisbury last night. Pablo Haysham struck midway through the first half to give the Whites the lead, but Brandon Goodship levelled shortly after the half-time break and Ben Thomson struck an 87th-minute winner. Elsewhere, Swindon Supermarine won 2-1 in their game at Frome.