O’Keeffe eyes Premier side in the third round
FOREST GREEN ALVECHURCH 2 1
FOREST Green Rovers defender Corey O’Keeffe is hoping for an away trip to one of the big Premier League clubs in the third round of the FA Cup after the Green Devils avoided the banana skin of non-League Alvechurch.
The visitors, from the Southern League Premier Central, had beaten Forest Green’s Gloucestershire rivals Cheltenham in the first round, but there was to be no repeat despite an excellent equalising goal.
Jed Abbey scored a superb freekick early in the second half after Connor Wickham’s penalty had put Rovers into a 24th-minute lead, but Church old boy Josh March bundled in the winner just two minutes after Abbey’s leveller.
O’Keeffe told reporters afterwards: “It feels good to get the win and get our names into the hat for the next round. They moved the ball and tried to stress us out a bit, but we felt comfortable the whole game.
“The gaffer (Ian Burchnall) said to us at half-time that it was only 1-0 and anything could happen – and that the next goal was massive.
“Alvechurch did well to get one back, the lad curled it into the top corner, he was pretty chuffed.
“I want any Premier League team in the third round. I just want to get as far as we can. But a good away game somewhere.”
Forest Green went ahead for the first time on 24 minutes when March went down under a challenge from Aurio Teixeira to win a soft penalty.
Former Premier League striker Wickham’s low spot-kick sent Dan Jezeph the wrong way, for the Gloucestershire side’s top scorer to claim his eighth goal of the season.
Just four minutes into the second half, the Church were then level, with that goal from Abbey.
The former Wolves junior curled a stunning right-foot free-kick from just outside the penalty area, looping to the right of home goalkeeper Luke McGee into the top-left corner.
But, within two minutes, the hosts were back in front when Harry Boyes’ teasing left-wing cross caused confusion in the Church box, and March got in first to bundle the ball home.
Dom Bernard then caused a few flutters in home stomachs when he was sent off on 72 minutes for tugging Church top-scorer Danny Waldron’s shirt. But the hosts made sure that there would be no repeat of the upset suffered by Cheltenham as they ended the Church’s five-match cup run.
Alvechurch manager Ian Long said: “I’m proud of the run that we’ve been on, but a little disappointed with the performance we put in today.
“I think Forest Green were the better side. We struggled at times and I’m disappointed with the way that we conceded the second goal after we’d gotten back on level terms.
“We switched off at the back and we’ve been done.”
Forest Green: McGee, Casey, Moore-Taylor, Bernard, O’Keeffe, Hendry (Stevenson 74), McGeouch, Boyes, Peart-Harris, Wickham (Cargill 74), March. Not Used: Jones, Fiabema, Robertson, Thomas, Bunker, Bennett. Sent Off: Bernard (72).
Booked: Bernard, Hendry.
Goals: Wickham 24 pen, March 51.
Alvechurch: Jezeph, Burton (Bower 83), Willets, Carter, Sephton (Olaloko 90), Teixeira, Edge, Abbey, Concannon, Hamilton, Waldron. Not Used: Williams, Cassidy, Taylor, Brown, Spiers, Hallahan, Randle.
Booked: Abbey.
Goals: Abbey 49.
Attendance: 2,758.
Referee: Martin Coy (County Durham).