Oxford United made it through to the last 16 of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy thanks to a goal from Tyler Goodrham that earned them a 1-0 win at Forest Green Rovers this evening.
Goodrham's powerful drive early in the second half was enough to book United's place in the next round, despite a spirited effort from Forest Green in what turned out to be a very competitive cup tie.
New boss Des Buckingham stuck to his promise to take a look at all of the players at his disposal and fielded an unfamiliar United starting eleven, with Oisin Smyth playing at right-back and Joe Bennett making his debut on the other side of a back four. Both did well, while experienced duo Josh McEachran and Alex Gorrin shielded the back four expertly and moved the ball nicely as the team quickly settled to their task.
Further forward, there was the familiar clever movement of the returning James Henry and the bustle of Ruben Rodrigues and Goodrham behind Gatlin O’Donkor, but it was the home side who had the two best chances of a tight first half when Charlie McCann chipped a Troy Deeney cross over the top after 36 minutes and then found Smyth offering fantastic cover behind skipper Simon Eastwood to thump the ball clear off the line and keep it at 0-0 at half time.
The interval saw a key change with Henry replaced by Josh Murphy, and just four minutes later Murphy carved out the first shooting opportunity of the evening for the U's and Goodrham duly obliged with the game's decisive strike.
Murphy was the only player in the United squad with the sheer pace to reach what looked a lost cause and hook it back across goal. O'Donkor challenged, Rodrigues moved the ball on and Goodrham lashed into the net to evoke memories of a stunner he scored into the same goal at the business end of last season.
Only 147 fans to run towards this time on the away terrace, but credit to those snookertastic away fans who had braved a freezing night to follow their team.
The lively Tyrese Omotoye scuffed a good chance wide of Eastwood's goal soon after as the home side tried to find a way back into the tie, applying pressure and testing the excellent Stephan Negru and Jordan Thorniley in defence. Eastwood made two fine saves to keep a deserved clean sheet, players made brave blocks when needed, and overall the difference was just that one clinical moment from Goodrham.
United had chances to make things safe with a second, O'Donkor sending a Murphy cross over the top, Goodrham firing two good crosses across the face of goal, and Rodrigues firing over the top of both goal and stand to hit a passing municipal vehicle on the road beyond - right on the gritter.*
United played injury time with ten men as Negru limped off and that sparked a late onslaught to withstand. Credit to Rovers, who pressed United hard even before that, but that's three clean sheets in four games under the new Manager and back-to-back cup wins as his side safely booked their place in Friday night's draw for the last 16.
Job done. The very tip of the Wembley arch maybe just glowing slightly beyond the horizon. Let's see where this little adventure takes us...
Att: 494
Away: 147
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Edmunds and Darrell Fisher
*this genuinely happened