Forest Green Rovers 2

(Parkin 49, Kelly 55)

Didcot Tn 2

(Williams 76, Mills 86)

Prolific scorer John Mills grabbed a late equaliser as Didcot Town came back from two goals down to earn a second chance against Vanarama Conference side Forest Green Rovers in the FA Trophy first round.

It looked as if the Railwaymen, from three levels further down the non-League ladder, were going out.

But with just 15 minutes remaining, they made a double substitution and after just coming on, Lance Williams got onto the end of Sam Elkins’s cross to give the visitors hope.

And then, with four minutes to go, Mills got his 34th goal of the season as he prodded home from Josh Dutton-Black’s cross to stun the hosts.

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Both sides had chances to win it late on, none more so than Jack Longford, who was set up by Pablo Haysham only to shoot over.

It left the tie all square with the replay at the Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow Stadium tomorrow.

Didcot had a great opportunity to take the lead in the 20th minute when Mills found Dutton-Black in space inside the area, but he dragged his shot wide.

Three minutes later, Forest Green were reduced to ten men when Clovis Kamdjo was harshly sent off for a challenge on Andy Ballard.

Didcot thought they had a stonewall penalty appeal turned down when Luke Oliver brought down Mills in the box.

But Forest Green started to dominate at the end of the first half and almost took the lead when Marcus Kelly’s inswinging corner was met with a thumping header by Danny Coles, who was denied by the underside of the crossbar.

Jack Self then had to produce a frantic clearance off the line to deny Jon Parkin after a scramble in the six-yard box.

Didcot were clinging on when the half-time whistle sounded, and their resistance was broken within four minutes of the restart when Parkin swivelled onto a quick throw-in and smashed a volley beyond James Foster.

Shortly after, Elliott Frear set up Kelly, who curled his shot past Foster to double the hosts lead.

However, Didcot rallied in terrific fashion to earn a replay.

Didcot Tn: Foster, Elkins, Organ, Self (Clark 75), Carnell, Learoyd, Dutton-Black, Ballard (Williams 75), Mills, Haysham, Longford. Subs not used: Heapy, Woodley, Baines.

Referee: O Yates.

Attendance: 517 (93 from Didcot).

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