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FOREST Green head north tonight looking to see if they can match their cup exploits with an improvement in BSP fortunes and so escape from the relegation zone.
New manager Dave Hockaday has been installed since we visited the New Lawn on August Bank Holiday Monday and returned home with our first away win of the season.
Not that Rovers hadn't played well that day, but a quick-fire double from Wes Baynes cut them down and there was no way back for the Gloucestershire club.
They have shown signs of improving since, but with just two wins from 21 BSP games they currently sit in 22nd place and six points off safety.
Yet in the FA Cup it's a different story, as successes over Mangotsfield United, Mansfield Town and Bath City have seen them progress to the Third Round.
But Rovers' hopes of a money-spinning tie were dashed after being drawn away to League Two side Notts County.
Fans must have watched Sunday's televised draw, dreaming of seeing their side go toe-to-toe with a Premier League or Championship giant.
Instead Rovers, who have pocketed £57,500 in prize money from this season's competition, must head to Meadow Lane to face Sven-Goran Eriksson's Magpies on January 2.
Mark Preece, who netted in Saturday's 2-1 second-round win at Bath City, admitted the reward was disappointing.
"All the Conference clubs left in the competition seemed to get good draw apart from us, which is a bit hard to take," said Preece.
"But we've got to look at it as a positive. Notts County is a game we can win if we perform like we can.
"It will be very tough but anything can happen in the FA Cup."
Rovers captain Paul Stonehouse said: "We've got a chance of progressing and maybe we can get a Manchester United or Liverpool in the fourth round."
Rovers' win at Bath was reward for a second-half surge, Preece netting the decisive goal after Lewis Hogg had made it 1-1.
Manager Dave Hockaday praised his side's resilience and was equally keen to pay tribute to their Blue Square South opponents.
"We didn't play as well as we have been but did more than enough to win the game," said Hockaday.
"Just towards the end of the first half, when I thought we were comfortable, we stopped pressing and started to invite the ball in our box.
"In the second half we closed down better and held the line.
"Yes, we weathered a little bit of pressure, but Bath are a big strong team and were desperate to win.
"They acquitted themselves really well and should be very proud of themselves."
Manager Hockaday has been trying to reshape his squad and to this end recently signed young striker Ben Joyce on loan from Coca-Cola League Two side Torquay United.
Twenty-year-old Joyce could not believe it when he was recalled by his parent club from his loan spell at Blue Square South Weston-super-Mare, to be informed that he would be going to Rovers in time for their match with Bath in the FA Cup.
The Plymouth-born striker is seen by Rovers` boss David Hockaday as the ideal replacement for the departing Sean Rigg, who left the New Lawn after a very successful loan spell to return to Bristol Rovers.
Prior to signing at Plainmoor, Joyce had been at Swindon Town for two seasons.
He said: "This is a great opportunity and if I can only do half as well as Sean, then who knows we might meet up again in January with both of us eager to lead the line. I am very excited at the chance being offered to me."
Another new face in the last is Joe O`Cearuill from Ryman League Premier Division side Boreham Wood.
O'Cearuill started his career at Leyton Orient, playing for their youth team in 2004/05 before joining Watford where he spent one season.
In the summer of 2006, he was signed by Arsenal and played for several of their junior teams at various levels and then in January 2007, he was loaned out to League One side, Brighton & Hove Albion.
Though born in Edmonton, London, he elected through parental qualification to represent the Republic of Ireland and has played for that country's u17 and u19 teams before being called up for their senior squad in May 2007.
It was an end of season tour to the United States, during which he made two appearances under then boss Steve Staunton.
He then moved to Barnet in August 2007, during which time he was again called up by the Republic of Ireland, though on this occasion for the under-21 squad, before going on to make nine appearances in total in that age group.
In January 2008, Joe moved to Ireland and signed for St Patrick's Athletic in the Eircom League.
Yet 18 months later, he returned to England, seeking to resurrect his playing career back home in his favoured position as a central defender, although most of his caps were earned playing as a right-back.
He signed for Ryman League Division One North side Harlow Town and then only moved to Boreham Wood in October, before getting his chance with Rovers.
Meanwhile, winger Conal Platt will be forced to miss tonight's game through suspension.
The Citizen - Peter Orchard
