Forest Green Rovers discovered their National League Play Off semi-final opponent last night as Southend United defeated Rochdale in a seven-goal thriller at Spotland.
Rovers will take on the Shrimpers at The New Lawn on Wednesday the 22nd of May with a place in the final at Wembley up for grabs.
On the two occasions the teams met in the league this season, there was nothing to split the sides with both games finishing in a 2-2 draw.
After finishing third in the National League table, Rovers secured themselves a home tie against the winner of fourth (Rochdale) vs seventh (Southend) who played each other in the quarter finals.
After confirming their place in the post-season on the final day of the league campaign, it would be Southend who kept their football league dreams alive via an extra time victory.
Despite trailing 3-1 with 20 minutes to play, the Essex-based side battled back to take the tie to the additional 30, where Charley Kendall’s 101st minute header would prove to be that decisive seventh goal.
Steve Cotterill’s side will look to use their impressive home form as an advantage, having only suffered one league defeat at home all season.
They also finished 15 points ahead of their Wednesday night opponents.
FGR Predicted Line-up:
Cann, Osadebe, Inniss, Moore-Taylor, Robson, May, Sercombe, McCann, McAllister, Cardwell, Garrick
Score Prediction:
Despite finishing their National League campaign in lacklustre fashion, Rovers will turn on the style and progress through to the Play Off final and give themselves the chance of bouncing back to the Football League at the first time of asking.
FGR 3-1 Southend United
