Forest Green Rovers go three without win in National League Cup following defeat by Wolves Under-21s
Forest Green Rovers fell to their third successive defeat in the National League Cup after a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Wolves Under-21s on Wednesday evening.
Goals from Temple Ojinnaka and Fletcher Holman kept Rovers’ winless run going in the competition.
The home side started with a slightly different shape at the beginning of the game, opting with a 3-4-1-2 formation, seeing Christian Doidge starting a little bit deeper and Teddy Jenks at left centre-back.
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Wolves had a good chance after 22 minutes when a great cross from Fabian Reynolds found the head of Leon Chiwome, but his effort drifted wide of the post.
Harry Cardwell was replaced by Jesse Aldridge after 25 minutes giving a boost for some important minutes after being benched against Boston United on Saturday.
Wolves should have been ahead 26 minutes in when Fletcher Holman was found through on goal in bags of space, but Jamie Searle saved low one-on-one to push it behind for a corner.
Doidge forced Lewys Benjamin into a great save in the 31st minute after he was slotted through on goal by Liam Sercombe for Rovers’ best opportunity of the first-half.
Rovers introduced Akai Bonnick and Kemall Wilson at half-time, replacing Ryan Inniss and Jenks.
Wolves opened the scoring minutes into the second-half when a great deep cross from Ethan Sutherland found Ojinnaka at the back post for an easy header past Searle.
Wanderers doubled their lead just seven minutes after their first when Rovers were dispossessed in their own box by Holman, who slotted into the bottom-right corner.
Forest Green had a great opportunity 70 minutes into the game when Sercombe lined up a shot from distance, but his effort was just wide of the post.
Rovers were forced into a change in the 75th minute with Wilson, who was introduced as a substitute at half-time, was replaced through injury by Jose Marquez.
Wolves had another effort in the 89th minute which forced Searle into a save after a strong shot from Matthew Whittingham.
Aldridge had a decent game after replacing Cardwell, in the second-half he was caught offside twice in quick succession, but created the space well on both occasions to be found through on goal.
Forest Green are next in action on Saturday when they host their opening day of the season opponents, Aldershot Town (3pm).
Forest Green Rovers: Searle; Lavinier, Tozer, Inniss (Wilson 46, Marquez 75), Jenks (Bonnick 46), Petrynski; Osadebe, Sercombe; Doidge (Conteh 77); Cardwell (Aldridge 25), Quigley. Subs not used. Long, Knowles.
Wolves Under-21s: Benjamin; Ojinnaka, Voice, Mabete (White 83), Carson, Sutherland; Bradbury (Whittingham 81), Barnett (Rawlings 81), Reynolds (Ashworth 71); Holman, Chiwome (Lopes 71). Subs not used. Amos, Angel.
Referee: Jacob Miles.
Attendance: 207.
