In Adam Hinshelwood’s first game since returning as Worthing manager, goals from Harry Whitfield and Tom Knowles gave the visitors an early advantage.

Teddy Jenks pulled one back for the Rebels moments before half-time, however second half substitutes Harry Bunker and Jayden Clarke put the tie to bed for the Gloucestershire side.

Hinshelwood made three changes to the Worthing side that lost 1-0 away at Maidenhead United in our last league game; captain Joel Colbran returned to the fold in place of the suspended Harry Ransom, while Nathan Odokonyero and Toby Byron were also brought into the starting eleven.

It was the Rebels who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, with both Jenks and Jack Spong having efforts blocked inside the box following a fast start by the hosts.

Worthing had a great opportunity to open the scoring in the 12th minute, after smart hold-up play from Temi Babalola allowed the striker to breach the visitors backline via a one-two with Jenks.

With space to take on the shot from the angle, Babalola opted to square the ball, with the Rovers defence
able to clear their lines.

From the next passage of play, it was Robbie Savage’s side who took the lead. Having won a free-kick just inside the Worthing half, the hosts’ backline were caught out by the marauding run of Whitwell, who latched onto a lofted ball in behind before slotting past Seb Stacey to give Forest Green the lead.

Ten minutes later, the away side would go on to double their lead courtesy of Knowles’ close-range finish. After Worthing gave the ball away from a promising position inside the final third, the rapid pace of Jili Buyabu allowed Forest Green to get bodies forward.

With Worthing out of shape, the ball eventually fell to the feet of Knowles, who finished low past Stacey on his left foot to make it 2-0 in the 22nd minute.

After the final 20 minutes of first half action produced largely half chances at both ends, Worthing halved the deficit with a crucial goal on the stroke of 45 minutes.

Forest Green struggled to clear at the edge of their own penalty area, and after tireless play by Razzaq Coleman De-Graft to win the ball back in the air, Jenks was on hand to sweep home a first time effort past Luke McNicholas from a central position near the edge of the box.

Having made no changes at the break, Hinshelwood’s Worthing began the second half on the offensive. Clever play by Coleman De-Graft on the right by-line to fashion a low delivery allowed Odokonyero the chance to put McNicholas under pressure inside the six-yard box, however the Rovers ‘keeper did just enough to prevent the Rebels no.9 from stabbing home from close range.

The Rebels, having dominated the opening quarter of an hour following the interval, suffered a major blow in their comeback effort as Forest Green found a third goal in the 69th minute courtesy of substitute Bunker.

Moments after Bababola headed just over the bar following a corner, the away side capitalised on a wayward pass from Spong to put pressure on the Worthing backline, with Bunker curling in a first time effort in off Stacey’s right hand post.

Forest Green, who had been ruthless all night in making Worthing pay for their mistakes, would go on to add a fourth goal in the 74th minute, with another substitute, Clarke slotting home from the penalty spot after being fouled from behind in the box by Sam Packham.

Despite Worthing continuing to push forward in attempt to claw back at Forest Green’s advantage, the away team would go on to preserve their three goal lead, setting up a trip to Luton Town in the First Round Proper of the competition.