Forest Green Rovers bowed out of the FA Cup second round, as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Carlisle United.

Things started well for Rovers, but Aaron Hayden’s 41st minute header was enough to separate the sides and send the Cumbrians through to the next round.

Mark Cooper made five changes to the side that lost against Scunthopre United on Saturday, the Rovers boss handing Adam Smith a start in goal, while Junior Mondal, Kyle Taylor, Dayle Grubb and Aaron Collins freshened up the attack.

Collins was the first to show his attacking promise, getting an early shot off from 25 yards, but his first-time strike was comfortable for Adam Collin.

Just shy of the 10-minute mark, Shephard did well to make space for himself on the right before cutting back to Collins, the strikers effort sliding well wide of the far post.

Rovers looked the more threatening of the two side for most of the first half, Mondal finding space and rattling an effort goalwards, only to see it narrowly miss the mark with 25 minutes on the clock..

The visitors best chance of the half came just three minutes later, Taylor latching onto Shephard's sweet cross from the right, the midfielder directing his half-volley over the bar.

With the half-hour mark in the past, the hosts clicked into gear.

Nathan Thomas flashed a fantastic low cross in front of the Rovers goal with 36 minutes on the clock, but the low ball was just too quick for Hallam Hope.

Minutes later, a great chance for the hosts saw the dangerous Thomas latch onto Canice Carroll's cross-field pass, but the winger couldn’t toe the ball inside the post after a fantastic first touch.

Four minutes before the break, the hosts were rewarded for their pressure.

Thomas' deep free-kick to the back post was met by the head of Hayden, the defender nodding the ball back across goal and into the corner.

After a quiet start to the second half, things kicked back into life after 70 minutes.

Carlisle went close after Harry McKirdy ghosted into the Rovers box before firing wide, Collins being denied at the other end minutes later having controlled the ball in the area from Mondal’s cut-back.

McKirdy was involved again with 74 minutes on the clock as the hosts broke forward, with three-on-three, the midfielder deciding to shoot but blazing well over.

Rovers were agonisingly close to levelling the score with 81 minutes on the clock, Collins dancing inside before thundering an effort onto the top of the bar.

Rovers had a late, late chance to equalise as Matt Mills knock-down was met by a hooked volley from Adams, but the midfielder fired over.

Forest Green XI: Smith, Shephard, Bernard (Godwin-Malife 84'), Rawson, Winchester (c), Grubb (M.Mills 46’), Collins, Adams, Kitching, Mondal, Taylor (Stevens 61’)

Unused subs: Thomas, Morton, Dawson, McGinley

Carlisle XI: Collins (c), Carroll, Hayden, Thomas, M.Jones, Hope (Elliott 89'), Scougall (McKirdy 61’), G.Jones, Webster (Knight-Percival 87'), Branthwaite, Loft

Unused subs: Gray, Olomola, Sagaf, Sorenson

Referee: Andy Haines

Attendance: 1,736 (88 away)

Man of the match:

Next time out: Northampton Town