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National League - 2nd Leg
Forest GreenForest Green Rovers1DoverDover Athletic1

National League: Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Dover Athletic (agg: 2-1)

By Tom GarryBBC Sport
Keanu Marsh-Brown
Keanu Marsh-Brown's ninth National League goal of the season made it 1-1 on the night

Forest Green Rovers reached the National League promotion final with a 2-1 aggregate win over Dover Athletic.

Ricky Miller's deflected goal had drawn an improved Dover level on aggregate.

But Keanu Marsh-Brown's curler for Forest Green, who sacked manager Ady Pennock on 27 April, sent them through.

Mark Cooper was at the New Lawn to watch Forest Green after resigning as Notts County boss earlier on Saturday and BBC Radio Nottingham reports he is set to become Rovers' new manager.

Caretaker boss Scott Bartlett has taken charge of the Gloucestershire's club's last three games - all against Dover - since Pennock was dismissed to "boost the club's chances in the play-offs".

A spirited Dover created enough chances on the night to at least force extra-time but Miller blazed wide from close range and Sam Magri struck the underside of the crossbar.

Marsh-Brown's goal was a near-replica of the quality, curling effort into the top corner from Brett Williams that had won the first leg for Forest Green, who finished second in the table in the regular season.

After the match, Rovers owner Dale Vince told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that Bartlett would take charge of the side for the final at Wembley on 15 May.

Braintree host Grimsby in the second leg of their semi-final on Sunday, leading the Mariners 1-0 from the first leg.

Forest Green Rovers caretaker boss Scott Bartlett: "The boys have been fantastic. Our preparation has been spot on all week.

"I'm calm because I know they are going to give me everything. It would take a good side to beat us.

"Dover pushed us and pushed us and pushed us. It was never comfortable. They've done well. Full credit to them."

Dover boss Chris Kinnear: "I thought we deserved something. We had so many chances. I'm just very, very disappointed, but you've got to look at the positives.

"The club is moving on steadily. I'm proud of the lads. You can't ask any more.

"Today they gave everything. But somebody has got to lose and good luck to Forest Green."

Line-ups

Forest Green

  • 1Arnold
  • 27Jefford
  • 24CarterSubstituted forKamdjoat 88'minutes
  • 19Sinclair
  • 4CloughBooked at 26mins
  • 11FrearSubstituted forMooreat 50'minutes
  • 16Racine
  • 6Bennett
  • 9Marsh-Brown
  • 17Guthrie
  • 26WilliamsSubstituted forParkinat 77'minutesBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

  • 2Pipe
  • 12Kamdjo
  • 14Moore
  • 20Parkin
  • 40Pidgeley

Dover

  • 1Walker
  • 2MagriSubstituted forMarshat 90+2'minutes
  • 6Orlu
  • 17Deverdics
  • 5Raggett
  • 18Parkinson
  • 21Thomas
  • 4Kinnear
  • 23Payne
  • 9Miller
  • 7Modeste

Substitutes

  • 8Bellamy
  • 15Grimes
  • 16Sterling
  • 26Marsh
  • 30Rafferty
Referee:
Michael Salisbury
Attendance:
2,755

Match Stats

Home TeamForest GreenAway TeamDover
Possession
Home48%
Away52%
Shots
Home10
Away15
Shots on Target
Home3
Away4
Corners
Home2
Away8
Fouls
Home7
Away8

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Forest Green Rovers 1, Dover Athletic 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Forest Green Rovers 1, Dover Athletic 1.

  3. Booking

    Jon Parkin (Forest Green Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Jon Parkin (Forest Green Rovers).

  5. Post update

    Ricky Modeste (Dover Athletic) wins a free kick.

  6. Post update

    Corner, Dover Athletic.

  7. Substitution

    Substitution, Dover Athletic. Tyrone Marsh replaces Sam Magri.

  8. Post update

    Corner, Forest Green Rovers.

  9. Substitution

    Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Clovis Kamdjo replaces Darren Carter.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Keanu Marsh-Brown (Forest Green Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

  11. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Stefan Payne (Dover Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  12. Post update

    Attempt missed. Ricky Modeste (Dover Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

  13. Post update

    Corner, Dover Athletic.

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Jon Parkin replaces Brett Williams.

  15. Post update

    Attempt missed. Chris Kinnear (Dover Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

  16. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Stefan Payne (Dover Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  17. Post update

    Attempt missed. Ricky Miller (Dover Athletic) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right.

  18. Post update

    Corner, Dover Athletic.

  19. Post update

    Corner, Dover Athletic.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Aswad Thomas (Dover Athletic).

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Cheltenham4630115873057101
2Forest Green462611969422789
3Braintree4623121156381881
4Grimsby4622141082453780
5Dover4623111275532280
6Tranmere4622121261441778
7Eastleigh4621121364531175
8Wrexham462091771561569
9Gateshead461910175970-1167
10Macclesfield461991860481266
11Barrow461714156471-765
12Woking461710197168361
13Lincoln City461613176968161
14Bromley46179206772-560
15Aldershot46168225472-1856
16Southport461413195265-1355
17Chester461412206771-454
18Torquay461312215476-2251
19Boreham Wood461214204449-550
20Guiseley461116194770-2349
21Halifax461212225582-2748
22Altrincham461014224873-2544
23Kidderminster46913244971-2240
24Welling46811273573-3835
View full National League table

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