Young Saints suffer late defeat at Forest Green

By SFC Media time Tue 03 Sep FGR v Saints
Photo by Chris Moorhouse | Dan N'Lundulu
Tue 03 Sep 7PM
Papa Johns Trophy
Forest Green Rovers
3
Southampton
2
Stevens [29' 89'] Grubb [71']
goal
Hale [15'] N'Lundulu [79']
yellow card
N'Lundulu
Referee: Brett Huxtable | Venue: The New Lawn | Attendance: 653

Southampton were on the receiving end of late drama at The New Lawn, as Forest Green Rovers struck an 89th-minute winner in the Leasing.com Trophy.

The young Saints took a first-half lead through Harlem Hale’s cool finish, before Matty Stevens drew the hosts level.

Rovers then took a 71st-minute lead through substitute Dayle Grubb, only for Dan N’Lundulu to strike back as Saints showed their spirit.

But Stevens was in the right place at the right time to secure maximum points for the League Two side with a poacher’s goal at the death.

Radhi Jaïdi’s side made a very promising start, with both Jack Turner and N’Lundulu shooting wide in the first three minutes.

The home team responded in an entertaining opening, as Jack Bycroft was forced to beat away a shot from a tight angle at his near post, before Liam Kitching headed the resulting corner over the bar.

But it was the young Saints who made the breakthrough after 15 minutes, as N’Lundulu capitalised on a defensive mistake and sent his strike partner clean through on goal.

Hale kept his composure to slot the ball under goalkeeper Lewis Thomas to give the visitors the lead.

The game continued in an end-to-end fashion, a very watchable affair, but the Forest Green threat was increasing and the EFL club equalised on the half hour.

After Bycroft denied Stevens with a stunning close-range save, the striker was not to be denied, and moments later headed home at the far post to level the scores.

Rovers ended the half strongly, with Pascal Kpohomouh just doing enough to hold off McCoulsky when winger Junior Mondal delivered a teasing cross, before the latter’s control let him down from a chance of his own.

Saints would have to do some more defending in the second period, as James Morton shot wide from a well-worked corner before Bycroft got down sharply to his left to keep out Kevin Dawson.

The hosts turned the game on its head in the 71st minute, as substitute Grubb found space in the box to shift the ball on to his left foot and shoot low across Bycroft into the far corner.

But Saints showed their spirit to bounce back. First Jake Vokins surged into the box and was so unlucky to see his shot tipped on to the underside of the crossbar by Thomas, before turning the rebound just wide as he threw himself at the loose ball.

Still Saints were not finished, as N’Lundulu led the charge by producing a moment of magic to tie the scores.

All on his own deep in Forest Green territory, the striker slowed down the last defender, then suddenly sidestepped to his left to work a shooting position from which he sent an angled drive in off the far post.

Just as Saints thought they had done enough, Stevens bundled the ball home from close range to snatch victory for the League Two side.

Forest Green Rovers

24
Lewis Thomas (GK)
7
Carl Winchester (C)
replace Dan Jones (67′)
9
Matty Stevens goal goal
15
James Morton
18
Kevin Dawson
replace Isaiah Jones (67′)
19
Nathan McGinley
20
Liam Kitching
21
Shawn McCoulsky
22
Udoka Godwin-Malife
25
Junior Mondal
28
Kyle Taylor
replace Dayle Grubb (46′) goal
1
Adam Smith
3
Dom Bernard
8
Dayle Grubb
12
Taylor Allen
23
Joseph Mills
36
Isaiah Jones
40
Dan Jones

Southampton

56
Jack Bycroft (GK)
27
Will Smallbone
29
Jake Vokins
31
Kayne Ramsay
40
Dan N'Lundulu yellow card goal
replace David Agbontohoma (90′)
50
Aaron O'Driscoll (C)
53
Harlem Hale goal
replace Ramello Mitchell (60′)
54
Christoph Klarer
68
Jack Turner
replace Kgaogelo Chauke (53′)
71
Pascal Kpohomouh
74
Lucas Defise
70
Oliver Wright
59
Kieran Freeman
69
David Agbontohoma
72
Kgaogelo Chauke
73
Ramello Mitchell
75
Marco Rus
Highlights: Forest Green 3-2 Southampton timeWed 04 Sep
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