Bristol Rovers U18s 3-2 Forest Green Rovers U18s
FA Youth Cup First Round, The Memorial Stadium, Tuesday 27 October 2026
Bristol Rovers U18s secured progression in the 2026/27 FA Youth Cup with an industrious 3-2 win over Forest Green Rovers.
Jacob Hammonds put the home side in front early on at The Memorial Stadium but FGR bit back just minutes later, as Jacob Robinson curled home a fantastic effort from distance.
The Gas had the lead again at half-time when the impressive Kazim Salahi-Ali poked in from a tight angle, with a third netted on 59 minutes by the battling Carson Fowler.
Forest Green ensured a nervy closing few moments when Ollie Tring netted from the penalty spot in the first of four additional minutes, and Rovers goalkeeper Wil Wilson had to make a sensational stop just seconds later to deny the away side an equaliser.
The home side held their nerve to secure victory and a place in the second round of the competition.
Amidst changeable conditions in BS7 it was the perfect start for the young Pirates, grabbing the lead just three minutes into the contest. Playmaker Hammonds was in the right place to tuck in from six yards after a brilliant break away from the home side.
Salahi-Ali went close to doubling the lead moments later, but Forest Green unexpectedly levelled the match on ten minutes with a moment of true quality. Attacker Robinson collected the ball and fired in a pinpoint curler from distance.
The visitors could have turned the match on its head inside quarter-of-an-hour as Zemen Osawe burst away in possession, only for captain Henry De-Long to make a great, last-ditch tackle.
Hammonds fizzed a shot wide from 20 yards before Charlie Ball’s venom-filled effort was well saved, before Rovers restored their lead with four minutes left of the first half. The industrious Salahi-Ali followed in
Hammonds’ effort to turn in from a narrow angle, giving the hosts the lead at half-time.
Looking to build on their lead from the first half, Rovers started the second period brightly with Ted Haines firing wide at the near post, before Salahi-Ali almost doubled his own tally with a powerful strike.
A third was not far off for the Gas, with midfielder Fowler bravely putting his head in where it hurts to nod in Charlie Ball’s cross just before the hour mark, giving the Gas control of the tie.
Ciaran O’Donnell almost added a fourth for the home side, and the finish would have been deserved too at the end of a mazy run down the flank, but his attempt was into Max Connor’s grateful gloves.
Forest Green would make the closing exchanges very interesting when a penalty was awarded in the first of four additional minutes, with captain Trigg stepping up to score.
And the action would not end there as Bristol Rovers goalkeeper Will Wilson had to mke a massive, reactive save to deny the away side a leveller moments later.
But the home side held their nerve, and in doing so secured their place in the next round of the FA Youth Cup.
Bristol Rovers U18s: Wilson, Haines (S. Ball 69), Kelleher, Toogood, De-Long (C), Iwhiwhu, O’Donnell (Rix 90+2), Fowler (Carr 62), C. Ball, Hammonds, Salahi-Ali (Frisby 87)
Subs not used: Berger (GK, Dixon, Lister
Goals: Hammonds 3, Salahi-Ali 41, Fowler 59,
Forest Green Rovers U18s: Connor, Trigg (C), Hine, Robinson, Bifulco, Osawe, Stiles, Helwett, Williams, Dolbear, Bedden
Subs not used: Rogers, Notton Brown, Hamilton Gill, Malpass, Rehmanwala, Giquaire
Goals: Robinson 10, Trigg 90+1 (p)
Attendance: 443
Goals & Reaction | Watch Rovers U18s' three finishes against Forest Green Rovers
Bobby-McKenzie Black | What a wonderful experience for the lads!
Development phase coach Bobby-McKenzie Black was full of praise for the U18s' efforts in their victory over Forest Green Rovers.
"I think it's really important to start off by saying how well I think the team has done. They've done well across different moments of the game. This is an honest group. When I think about our values as a football club and as an Academy, honesty is a really big pillar within that and I think, in my opinion, this is as honest a group as we've had."
You can watch Bobby's full interview in the video player above!
