Dover Athletic 2 Forest Green Rovers 1

A COOLLY taken goal by Matt Carruthers 14 minutes from time sent Whites into a fifth round FA Trophy tie at Hednesford on Saturday.

Last year Whites saw off full-timers Scarborough at the same stage before going out in the fifth round to Forest Green, but they exacted full revenge over the Gloucestershire outfit in Tuesday evening’s fourth round replay.

After conceding three goals in each of the last four games, manager Richard Langley had to act to shore up the defence, and the introduction of young Craig Cloke in front of a rejigged four proved a masterstroke.

Cloke deservedly picked up the sponsor’s man of the Match award, roaming central midfield for 90 minutes, winning countless tackles and headers and providing much-needed backbone.

Whites made a dream start when Darren Davies put them ahead after just four minutes with a delicately executed free kick. Jamie Day’s trickery won the opportunity as he was fouled on the edge of the penalty area in a central position.

Questions must be asked over Neil Grayson’s 32nd minute equaliser for Forest Green.

Alex Sykes played the ball to Martin Foster, wide on the right and Grayson was allowed a free header at the far post as he directed Foster’s cross into the far corner of the net beyond Paul Hyde.

Significantly, though, it was the last contribution by the ever-dangerous veteran striker as he pulled a leg muscle in leaping to score and limped off.

Whites grabbed the winner after another telling contribution from Cloke.

Winning the ball with a block tackle in his own half, Cloke got up and played a well-weighted 30-yard through ball to Carruthers, who beat a slightly hesitant Perrin to the ball and shot home from 16 yards.

Rovers’ Kevin Langan was rushed to hospital with severe concussion when falling awkwardly after an accidental clash with Davies, who rather harshly had his name taken.

In seven minutes’ injury time the visitors’ best effort was a free kick by Damon Searle from just outside the penalty area, but the wall did its job and some ferocious tackling and blocking preserved Whites’ lead.

The final whistle signalled another £5,000 in prize money for Whites and with £6,000 on offer in the next round, they will want to keep this run going a while longer.

Dover Athletic: Hyde, Browne, Davies, Humphrey (Hickman 68), Cloke, Chapman, Day, Spiller, Wilkins, Skelton, Carruthers.