CONNOR Wickham scored an outrageous FA Cup goal as Forest Green Rovers proved too good for non-league South Shields to progress to the second-round.

Seventh-tier South Shields were outclassed by a League One side 78 places above them in the first half and trailed to Wickham's untidy close-range finish from Corey O'Keeffe's exquisite cross.

The Mariners played with far greater urgency in front of a noisy record home crowd of almost 4,000 after the break and had several excellent opportunities to level, most notably 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 also went agonisingly wide but Rovers, who are 23rd in the third tier and have won just three league games all season, made sure of the win in the final seconds of added time when Wickham spotted keeper Myles Boney off his line and scored with a outrageous lob.

Shields had held their own early on but they failed to build on an encouraging opening and failed to muster an attempt on target in the first half, with Wickham's mistimed header easily beating keeper Boney via his shoulder giving the visitors the lead.

The hosts responded in the second-half and it almost brought instant rewards when Woods sent a header a fraction wide from Conor Newton's tantalising cross.

Woods also took a heavy touch when trying to improve on an already decent shooting position and was crowded out after more great work by Dylan Mottley-Henry, while Rovers keeper Lewis Thomas was finally tested by a Dillon Morse header.

The pressure continued and the hosts came even closer when Adams got in behind the Rovers defence on the left but saw his low strike hit the outside of the post.

But with away nerves still jangling, Wickham's audacious attempt ensured Forest Green's victory.