Conor Wickham stuns fans and had the home end applauding after scoring from the halfway line as Forest Green beat South Shields.
A double from the former Premier League player sends Rovers into the second round of the FA Cup with the draw taking place on Monday.
His first-half header gave the League One side the lead before he doubled his tally with the final kick of the match, a wonder strike from the halfway line, right into the top corner.
BOOM! ๐๐๐#BBCFootball #FACup pic.twitter.com/SteoQa6vZS
โ Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 5, 2022
Seventh-tier South Shields tried their best and put in a valiant effort against a side 78 places above them in the first half and fell behind to Wickham’s close-range finish from Corey O’Keeffe’s cross.
The Mariners played with much more urgency in front of a sell out home crowd of nearly 4,000 after the break and had several excellent opportunities to get an equaliser, through a Michael Woods header and a Blair Adams strike which hit the outside of the post.
A delightful late dipping volley by Tom Broadbent went just wide but the EFL side, who currently sit 23rd in the third tier and have won just three league games all season, made sure of the victory in the last few seconds of added time when Wickham spotted keeper Myles Boney off his line and scored with a outrageous lob, keeping the pose of his body until the ball struck the net.
Wickham’s second goal was a fitting way to end what was a great cup clash but the result was a tad harsh on the hosts following their second-half display.
As the only full-time team in the seventh tier, and with a number of players with Football League experience, South Shields were perhaps not as big an underdog as they first appeared.
“Connor Wickhammmmmmm” ๐
The striker has given League One side Forest Green the advantage at South Shields.
๐ป๐ฅ๐ฑ Live @BBCOne, @BBCiPlayer & the @BBCSport app#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/PdCEzBgwkh
โ Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 5, 2022
Kevin Phillips’ side held their own in the early stages, with the competition’s top-scorer Dylan Mottley-Henry putting in a lively showing and looked capable of adding to his five goals from his side’s four qualifying rounds.
But they failed to build on an encouraging opening and couldn’t muster an attempt on target in the first half, with the visitors having much more possession and the better chances.
The best one was a slick move which freed the impressive O’Keeffe on the right, and his delightful curling cross was so good that even though Wickham mistimed his header, the ball still beat keeper Boney thanks to his shoulder.
Kevin Phillips looked slightly agitated by his side’s first-half display and in a quick pitchside BBC One interview at half time said they gave their opponents too much respect.
The players came out or the second half and on the resumption, pressing higher up the pitch, playing with much greater urgency and stopped Forest Green’s time on the ball. It almost brought instant rewards when Woods sent a header wide from Conor Newton’s cross.
Woods also took a heavy touch when trying to improve on an already decent shooting position, crowded out after more great work by Mottley-Henry, then Rovers keeper Lewis Thomas was finally tested by a Dillon Morse header but again the ball was prevented from going in.
The pressure continued to build, the hosts went close after Adams got in behind the Rovers defence on the left but saw his low strike hit the outside of the post.
But with away fans still left a little nervous South Shields would get an equaliser, Wickham’s audacious attempt ensured victory.
This is what fans had to say as Conor Wickham stuns by scoring from the halfway line as Forest Green beat South Shields…
@jamesbeswick_: Best thing about this is that he holds the pose!
@StevenFarrell99: Brilliant
@600ianj: Absolutely fantastic goal. One for the archives
@StevenFarrell99: That’s outrageous ๐
@DoctorLeeds: Finally living up to his Championship Manager potential.
@SWPalace: Oh my days
@Erks37: Sensational Connor Wickham ๐ฅ๐๐ป
@Mark_Stockwell: I guess most neutrals were rooting for South Shields there. But Connor Wickham hasn’t had the best of luck in his career so it’s hard to begrudge him this little moment of #FACup glory. (He does also have a semi-final winner to look back on as well, of course!) #cpfc #cpfcfamily
@LukeFrewin: Top corner without bouncing, so good. If it had been first time this would be an all-time classic of the genre
@Georgie7wyatt: What a goal Connor Wickham!
@gcorrighan: Class that ๐ฎ
@markalexpreston: You just can’t beat lobbing the keeper from the half way line for football entertainment
@GrocerJackUK: Gotta love a goal like this…..
@Glen_Naylor: Great finish, what a way to seal progression to round 2 by Connor Wickham #EmiratesFACup #BBCFootball
@ChrisTanfield1: Great way to finish the game ๐๐ผ
@Cam_Felton: Well thatโs goal of the round settled then.
@HarryMahon26: Connor Wickham was always a talent. Should never have gone to Sunderland.
@ZacHughess: connor wickham is a baller ๐ฉ
@lewyitfc: That was some finish by Connor Wickham and love the way he held his pose until it was in!
@cbrad27: Got to say, that is some strike by Connor Wickham. South Shields gave a very good account of themselves and deserved better.
@RossWishart: Connor Wickham, top bins from the half way line with the last kick of the game, take a bow son. ๐ #BBCFootball #FAcup #FGR
@LincolnCity1884: The fact that Connor Wickham is at Forest Green still makes no sense to me, even with his fitness issues heโs still way too good for a League One relegation battle.
@PeterJSmith1988: Connor Wickham is at Forest Green? Jeez
@justwinbabies2: That Connor Wickham goal was sexy, but how the fuck is that dude playing league one?
@SixCylinderDean: Lol at Connor Wickham scoring from the half way line, when he was at Sunderland, he couldn’t score from 2 yards out.
@Iain_Taylor8: Connor Wickham. Learnt that at the town! What a goal ๐ณ
@jfsmith98: What a stunning goal that is from Connor Wickham
@teejay61cpfc: Connor Wickham with a Beckham beauty ๐ #facup
@josh_earl3: #bbcfacup wow. That is special. Inch perfect from Connor Wickham.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login