Forest Green force cup replay with Carlisle

Posted Sunday, December 01, 2019 by PA

Forest Green and Carlisle will face an FA Cup replay after sharing a four-goal thriller.

Nathan Thomas’ double for Carlisle overhauled Aaron Collins’ opener but Gethin Jones’ own goal ensured the two sides will do it all again.

Carlisle, under new head coach Chris Beech, fell behind after 11 minutes when goalkeeper Adam Collin’s error put the ball on a plate for Aaron Collins to nod in from point-blank range.

Liam Shephard saw his fizzing strike gloved up into the air and onto the bar by Collin with the covering Aaron Hayden hacking clear.

Carlisle were back in the tie on 40 minutes when Nathan Thomas cut in to arrow a ball into the far corner of Joe Wollacott’s net.

Deep into stoppage-time, Thomas made his presence felt at the other end when he booted off the line from a Mathew Stevens header.

Rovers were stung on 76 minutes. Canice Carroll released Hallam Hope and his sumptuous ball into the box was turned in by Thomas for his second of the game.

Two minutes later and Rovers found parity – Gethin Jones turning into his own net, with Stevens also attempting to claim the goal.

Rovers almost pinched it with five minutes to go, Stevens planting a header into Collin from a Mills cross.