Bristol Rovers secured a place in the Conference Premier playoff final with a 2-0 win in the second leg against Forest Green Rovers this afternoon, giving them a 3-0 aggregate victory.
Chris Lines added to the 1-0 lead from the first leg in the first half, before Matty Taylor scored his second goal of the tie.
The Pirates will face either Eastleigh or Grimsby Town in the playoff final at Wembley later this month.
Read how all of the action unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Good evening! The battle for a place in the Football League continues this afternoon as Bristol Rovers and Forest Green Rovers go head-to-head in the second leg of their playoff tie, hoping to join league winners Barnet in League Two next season.
BRISTOL ROVERS STARTING XI: Puddy, Lockyer, McChrystal, Parkes, Brown, Gosling, Lines, Mansell, Monkhouse, Taylor, Blissett, Clarke
BRISTOL ROVERS SUBSTITUTES: Mildenhall, Leadbitter, Clarke, Balanta, Lucas
FOREST GREEN STARTING XI: Arnold, Bennett, Coles, Pipe, Jennings, Racine, Marwood, Sinclair, Frear, Guthrie, Parkin
FOREST GREEN SUBSTITUTES: Russell, Clough, Norwood, Wedgbury, Kamdjo
For the hosts, there is just one change following their win in the first leg, with Nathan Blissett replacing Ellis Harrison, who is suspended for this fixture. Meanwhile, Jamie Lucas is included on the bench after missing the first leg.
Meanwhile, there are three changes for Forest Green as Danny Coles and James Jennings both come in after missing he first leg, while James Marwood starts after a brief role off the bench last time out.
Once again, this match pits two of the Conference's top strikers, with Jon Parkin leading the Forest Green attack, while Matty Taylor will be looking to add to his goal count for the hosts. Only Barnet's John Akinde had more goals than Parkin this season, while Taylor had 19.
It's a shame that Stuart Sinclair has not been able to overcome injury to take his place in the squad for Bristol Rovers. The 27-year-old is the older brother of Forest Green midfielder Rob Sinclair, so it would have been interesting to see the siblings do battle.
Forest Green's 1-0 defeat to today's hosts in the first leg was the first time that they had been beaten by Bristol Rovers. The two sides had never met before this season, and the visitors secured a draw and a win during the campaign, with the win coming on their last trip to the Memorial Stadium.
Obviously, if the scores are level on aggregate at the end of the 90 minutes this afternoon, there's potential for extra time and the dreaded penalty shootout. The other two sides fighting for a place in the Football League are also in action this afternoon, with Grimsby hosting Eastleigh later. The winner of that tie will go head-to-head with the winner of this clash at Wembley later this month.
PREDICTION! With just a few minutes until the players make their way out for the more important match of their season, there's just time for a quick prediction. Bristol Rovers have the advantage from the first leg, so don't need to chase the game this afternoon, but sitting back isn't their style. I think it will be a fairly open and closely-fought contest, with the home side just edging it 2-1.
The team's emerge from the tunnel. Bristol Rovers will be looking to get back to the football league after just one season on non-league football, while Forest Green are trying to get their for the first time. The hosts are in their famous blue and white kit, while Forest Green are in their bright green strip.
The teams go into their huddles with just moments to go until kickoff. As expected, it's a packed stadium this afternoon, and it's quite an atmosphere being created by the home supporters.
KICKOFF! Bristol Rovers get the action underway!
CHANCE! It's a pretty aggressive start from the visitors as they win a free kick as a result of an offside. It's launched deep downfield to Jon Parkin, who tries to hit it first time on the turn, but it's scuffed just wide. It certainly looks like Forest Green are on a mission to overturn the first-leg deficit.
James Jennings makes his Forest Green debut today, nine months after injuring his knee in pre-season. The defender battles hard to stop Taylor getting the ball in from out wide, but he gives away a free kick. Steve Arnold is quickly out to punch the ball clear though.
Matty Taylor is looking to turn the screw against his former club as he charges towards the Forest Green goal. The striker is fulled back by Chris Lines though, giving the home side a free kick, but Kurtis Guthrie hooks it clear. The visitors certainly look well-prepared to deal with set pieces so far.
Frear bursts into the box for the visitors before looking to cut it back into the path of Parkin but Tom Lockyer is closely marking him, and forces him to turn the ball behind for a goal kick. There was space in the box for Parkin, so that's a bit of a let-off for the hosts.
Taylor control a long ball forward on the edge of the box before shaking off Aarran Racine on the turn. Rather than taking on the shot himself though, the club's top-scorer squares it for Andy Monkhouse, allowing Dale Bennett to get to it first.
CHANCE! Bristol Rovers are starting to look dangerous going forward, as Lee Brown uses his pace down the left to put a cross in for Nathan Blissett, but the striker can't quite rise high enough to nod it in at the far post. Had he got the slightest of touches there, that would surely have found the back of the net.
Bristol Rovers work the ball through midfield with ease as Taylor passes out wide to Gosling, who then cuts back to Lockyer, but his curling ball into the box was safety claimed by Arnold. The home side have looked the stronger of the two side going forward so far, but they haven't given the keeper too much to worry about so far.
CHANCE! It's a brilliant move from the hosts as Blissett chests the ball down the Monkhouse, who appears to be lining up the shot before spotting Gosling, passing out wide for the winger, who has loads of space in the box. He panics though, and ends up slicing the ball well high of the crossbar. What a waste!
Jennings gets out from the back to try to help out the Forest Green attack, but he grabs Taylor, giving the home side a free kick. Meanwhile, it looks like Dale Bennett has picked up a knock while marking Monkhouse.
GOAL! Bristol Rovers 1-0 Forest Green (Chris Lines)
What a stunning strike from Chris Lines! Matty Taylor brings the ball in from out wide, using some excellent footwork to cut slice the ball in for Lines. Forest Green are too busy watching Blissett, leaving the midfielder unmarked, and he thumps it first time right down the centre, with it striking the crossbar on the way in.
CHANCE! Bristol Rovers think that they can get this tie wrapped up by half time as Matty Taylor charges forward again, attempting to slot the ball into the bottom corner, but Arnold dives the right way, just tipping it behind with his fingertips.
SUB! The injury that Dale Bennett suffered a few minutes back has ended his match all-too soon, and the defender looks crest-fallen as he makes his way off, with Sam Wedgbury coming on. That change seems to drop captain David Pipe back into a more defensive role, with Wedgbury playing in midfield.
The hosts are really piling on the pressure at the moment, with Andy Monkhouse getting forward to look for Taylor with a cross from the left, but he mis-hits it, and it goes behind for a goal kick.
Forest Green finally manage to relieve the pressure by getting the ball out of their own half. Danny Coles delivers it into the box, but Puddy is ready in the home goal to turn it behind, and the keeper is on hand again as the resulting corner comes in.
CHANCE! The visitors have certainly started to see more of the ball in the last five minutes, and they win a free kick in a promising position when goal-scoring Chris Lines goes in late on Pipe. Jennings takes it, finding Coles, but Puddy is ready again.
CHANCE! Taylor has caused all sorts of problems for the Forest Green defenders so far, and he does so again as he knocks a cross down for Jake Gosling, but the winger's finish is just a fraction wide of the left post.
Neither side are happy as Kurtis Gurhrie wins a free kick right on the edge of the box. The midfielder insists that the foul was in the box, while Tom Parkes insists that he did nothing wrong. Sinclair's delivery can't clear the wall, while Frear's rebound is also blocked.
If Forest Green are to turn this around, they're going to need Jon Parkin, but he goes down clutching his knee in a challenge with Parkes. It gives the visitors a free kick in a dangerous position though, and the striker is soon back on his feet. He gets a chance from the resulting set piece, trying an overhead kick after Marwood scuffed his effort, but he can't get it on target.
Taylor manages to out-run Racine as he tries to keep a ball into the box in play for the hosts, but he simply loses his footing. He's furious, as he thought that the defender had grabbed his shirt as the ball came in, but the striker rather honestly stayed on his feet. Had the shirt-pulling caused him to fall, the referee would have had something to think about there.
BOOKING! A late challenge from James Marwood on Andy Monkhouse results in the referee having to reach for his cards for the first time, booking the Forest Green forward.
With a minute of stoppage time to be played, Gosling launches a high curling ball into the box, but there's a bit too much on it, and it ends up brushing the roof of the net as it goes out.
HALF TIME: Bristol Rovers 1-0 Forest Green
So, a first-half strike from Chris Lines doubles Bristol Rovers' aggregate lead as they push for an instant return to the football league. Forest Rovers have had chances, but they've given the home side far too much room at the back.
In the opening 45 minutes, the two sides split possession 50-50. However, Bristol Rovers had five shots, two on target, while Forest Green only had two off-target efforts, both of which fell to Jon Parkin.
Chris Lines's goal was his first since rejoining the club on loan from Port Vale earlier this year. The 29-year-old previously had a seven-year spell with the Pirates from 2004-2011, before moving to Sheffield Wednesday. It looks like he's pretty happy to be, judging by this shot of him celebrating the goal:
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
Forest Green are going to need to tighten up at the back in the second half to give themselves a chance of getting back into this tie. Jon Parkin has looked threatening as usual, but they need to look for James Marwood and Danny Coles more to really put the Bristol Rovers back four under pressure. Will Puddy really had very little to do in the home side's goal in the first half.
The players are making their way back out for the second half.
RESTART! The visitors get the action back underway.
The home side try to test Arnold almost straight away with a quick break into the box, but an offside prevented them getting the shot away. They quickly win a corner though, but Arnold is able to punch Gosling's delivery behind.
CHANCE! Forest Green concede another couple of corners in quick succession as they try to stop the hosts extending their lead, but Arnold is looking sharp, and collects it on the line as Taylor attempts to stab it home.
Taylor is on the attack again for the home side, providing a through-ball for Blissett, but the striker is just a step too quick, drifting offside as he closes in on the goal.
It's all starting to get a bit scrappy as Jennings and Taylor clash, with the former left clutching his ankle. The visitors respond by clattering into Mark McChrystal moments later, forcing the referee to give both sets of players a stern talking to. Up until now he's been relatively relaxed with his cards, but he may start having to make a few bookings shortly.
BOOKING! The referee does indeed have to reach for the cards, with Lee Mansell catching Darren England's attention for a rather rash challenge on Jennings, who seems to have been something of a marked man this afternoon. It also gives the visitors a free kick in a dangerous position.
CHANCE! Jennings whips it in superbly from 25 yards out, finding Parkin to leave the striker with a shot from close range,but Will Puddy made a superb diving stop. However, it wouldn't have counted anyway as the striker was just offside.
Bristol Rovers immediately make their way back down the other end, with Lines blasting the ball forward for Taylor, but the former Forest Green man couldn't quite get his finish on target.
CHANCE! Steve Arnold is called into action again as Taylor is left is space after shaking off Elliott Frear, leaving him with only the keeper to beat from the edge of the box, but he hesitated a fraction too long, giving the keeper time to prepare himself.
Blissett and Taylor continue to look for a second goal of the match for the home side, but the latter is just cut off by Pipe, who does superbly to get back to block the ball as the striker looked for his teammate.
SUB! It's a second change for the visitors as James Norwood comes on for Elliott Frear.
Gosling sends what looks like a harmless effort with little pace towards the Forest Green goal, but an awkward bounce forces Arnold to palm it behind. Lines curls it in, but Pipe manages to head it away.
It looks like the visitors are getting ready to make their final change, with Charlie Clough currently warming up. It would be an odd move, as they surely need to be going for all-out attack now rather than sending on another defender. However, the 24-year-old did start his career with Bristol Rovers, so there's plenty of incentive for him.
SUB! Clough is indeed coming on, replacing fellow former Bristol Rovers player Danny Coles. Predictably, neither get a particularly warm reception from the home crowd.
The home side think that they should have a free kick on the edge of the box as Taylor takes a tumble under pressure from Jennings, but the officials aren't interested. The visitors try to capitalise, immediately charging down the other end, and they force a corner.
CHANCE! As the corner is delivered, Racine and Sinclair both get shots away, but they're both blocked. There's a bit of a scramble to clear it from a packed goalmouth, but the home side to just enough to hold on.
Chris Lines is eyeing a second as his lines up a free kick from 30 yards out. He goes straight for goal, but it just doesn't dip in time. Forest soon get a chance down the other end, but Charlie Clough's finish from just outside the box is awful, ending up far back in the stand behind the goal.
Forest Green could have a bit of problem as James Norwood is limping, but they've already made all three changes, so he's trying to play through it, but he really can barely move. Incidentally, the home side still have all three substitutions available should they feel the need to make changes.
CHANCE! A third goal on aggregate would surely be enough for the home side to really start the celebrations, so Gosling breaks down the right before crossing in for Mansell, but there's too much on the ball. Gosling quickly wins it back in midfield and tries to drill it in low, but Arnold is alert and makes the save.
Bristol Rovers have a corner, which Gosling fires across the face of goal to leave Parkes with the header, but the defender can't quite reach it, allowing the visitors to put it behind. Gosling plays it back in from a second corner, but Arnold quickly snatches it out of the air.
The home fans certainly think that they've done enough already, with chants of "we're going to Wembley" filling the Memorial Stadium. It's hard to disagree, as the visitors really haven't threatened much in the last 20 minutes.
SUB! The home side finally make their first change, replacing Lee Mansell with Ollie Clarke.
GOAL! Bristol Rovers 2-0 Forest Green (Matty Taylor)
Well that's sealed it! Lee Brown comes forward to provide a perfect cross for Matty Taylor, who coolly slots it into the bottom corner with a first-time strike, leaving him with a goal in each leg against his old team.
SUB! It's a standing ovation as Matty Taylor comes off early. He's scored two of the three goals across the two legs, while setting up the other for Chris Lines. Angelo Balanta takes his place. Meanwhile, there are four minutes of stoppage time to be played.
Norwood fires a long ball forward to try to set something up for the visitors in the final seconds, but it really would be nothing more than a consolation now. However, there's no-one forward to meet it.
FULL TIME: Bristol Rovers 2-0 Forest Green
BRISTOL ROVERS REACH THE PLAYOFF FINAL WITH A 3-0 AGGREGATE WIN!
So goals from Chris Lines and Matty Taylor secure Bristol Rovers a spot in the Conference Premier playoff final at Wembley later this month. There's still work to do to get back in the Football League, but it's a good start for the Pirates.
Well, that's all from this match, but is you want to find out who will face Bristol Rovers in the final, join us again from 3pm for the second leg of Grimsby's tie against Eastleigh. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.
Written by
Sian Cowper
Sian Cowper
