Proud Scarborough boss Jonathan Greening hailed his players’ fortitude after they pushed EFL outfit Forest Green all the way again in a third meeting of the teams in this season’s FA Cup.

The first-round tie was ordered to be replayed after Forest Green had been found guilty of failing to inform the FA they had received permission to play a loan player against the National League North outfit.

Scarborough were only denied victory in the original tie by a stoppage-time equaliser, before going down 5-2 at Forest Green in the replay.

But this latest contest – a one-off rematch in North Yorkshire – saw Scarborough take an early lead and later reduce the deficit to 3-2 courtesy of a Luca Colville effort before sub Matty Stevens wrapped up a 4-2 triumph.

Greening said: “They came up here the day before and stayed in a hotel, whereas our players were up at 7am for work this morning and only got here an hour before kick-off, so that’s the difference in preparation for the game.

“But I thought the lads put in another really strong performance. We deservedly took the lead and we hit the post and could have had a penalty before we had them rocking at 3-2.

“Unfortunately, one mistake meant we ended up losing 4-2. Over the course of the three games, though, we have played five really good halves of football against a strong League Two team. There was only the first half at their place when we were 3-1 down that needed to be better.”

Forest Green boss David Horseman was pleased with his team’s clinical display, having failed to net in five of their previous six games, discounting the two expunged cup contests.

“It’s no secret that we need to score more goals, so I’m delighted to get four,” he declared.

“It helped having Matty Stevens back off the bench and Callum Morton on the pitch. We know they will score goals, but they’ve just not been available to us.

“I don’t actually think we created lots of chances tonight and Scarborough have given us three really tough games, but we were clinical which is what we’ve been missing for most of the season.”

Forest Green boss David Horseman praised his side’s fast start as they avoided an FA Cup embarrassment by beating Scarborough 5-2 in their first round replay.

League Two strugglers Rovers took an emphatic 4-0 lead after 35 minutes thanks to goals from Teddy Jenks, Kyle McAllister, Jamie Robson and Harvey Bunker.

Alex Wiles pulled one back for the National League North visitors but Tyrese Omotoye added a fifth before a late consolation from Michael Coulson as the hosts set up a second-round trip to Blackpool.

Horseman said: “It is important that we started well.

“In these cup ties you have to try and impose yourself on it, especially as a higher-league team against a lower-league team.

“And the boys, like I said, they were up for it.”

Horseman was impressed by the visitors, who had been minutes away from winning the tie in the first meeting.

“I thought Scarborough were absolutely excellent and ran us all the way and kept pushing,” the Rovers boss added.

“I thought the players had to show a really professional attitude to get it done and some moments of real Football League quality.

“It is a shame that it was not (more goals), if I am being really honest. Luckily enough we got through at the moment as far as we know with no more injuries.”

Scarborough boss Jonathan Greening, the former Manchester United and West Brom midfielder, was disappointed his side’s slow start ended their cup hopes.

“I am disappointed we have not gone through, but also very proud of the players,” he said.

“We gave them a good game over the two ties.

“What killed us tonight was we did not start the game very well for 20 to 30 minutes.

“We knew it was going to be difficult, but we are all disappointed with the first 20 to 30 minutes.”