KEMAR Roofe's powerful strike sent Oxford United into tomorrow night's Emirates FA Cup third round draw, but they made hard work of beating non-league opposition.

Forest Green Rovers were the better side before the break, as the hosts laboured.

Fortunately the poor spell did not cost them a goal and the longer the game went on United looked the more likely side to come out on top.

Roofe, so often the man to make the difference, broke the deadlock with a rasping 25-yard strike which flew into the net.

Suddenly a cup tie appeared and both sides had good chances in the closing stages, but United's greater quality ensured they will be alongside the Premier League sides in the third round.

United's line-up showed three changes from the XI which started the 1-0 win at Hartlepool United last weekend.

Danny Rose and Callum O'Dowda came into midfield for John Lundstram and Alex MacDonald, while up front Danny Hylton replaced the unavailable Chris Maguire.

Rovers may have been non-league opposition, but they arrived on the back of a seven-game unbeaten run which included a 2-1 win at AFC Wimbledon in the first round.

It took them 60 seconds to fire a warning shot, with Benji Buchel having to tip over an effort from Darren Carter.

The United goalkeeper was called upon at the resulting corner, saving from Aarran Racine's header.

It was all part of an assured start for the visitors, who worked hard to press United and looked bright when they had the ball.

The home side looked unsettled and struggled to find a rhythm in what must have been their poorest half of the season.

Passes went astray all too easily and Rovers were quick to take advantage, as when Carter fired over after Rose played Liam Sercombe into trouble.

They were listless and the home fans only stirred to vent their frustration at referee Rob Lewis, who harshly booked Rose amid a flurry of tight decisions which went against United.

The game was not helped by a five-minute stoppage for Dale Bennett to be stretchered off.

It took until the six added minutes for United to test Rovers goalkeeper Steve Arnold, who tipped over a dipping effort from Sercombe.

The only positive for the home side at the break was they were still on level terms.

U's head coach Michael Appleton resisted the temptation to make changes for the second half, as United gradually warmed to their task.

On the hour they finally put together a quality move, when Rose freed O'Dowda.

The winger swung in a cross which Hylton headed towards the top corner, but Arnold produced a superb one-handed save to divert the ball wide.

It was the cue for United to grow in confidence and the game began to open up.

Rovers did not carry the same attacking threat, but Carter fired an excellent chance straight at Buchel 17 minutes from time.

United broke and seconds later Hylton's header was kept out by Arnold.

But three minutes later the goalkeeper could do nothing about a fierce low drive from Roofe, despite getting a hand to the ball on its way into the net.

After such a cagey contest, the game exploded into life after the goal.

An O'Dowda corner hit a defender and struck the post, while the winger had a powerful effort saved by Arnold.

Rovers poured forward in search of a goal to earn a replay and James Jennings very nearly provided it six minutes from time when he headed a corner just wide.

Another set piece in stoppage time brought Arnold forward and the ball fell to him, but the goalkeeper headed wide as United held out to seal a narrow victory.

Oxford Utd (4-4-2): Buchel, Baldock, Dunkley, Mullins, Skarz, Roofe, Sercombe, Rose, O'Dowda, Hylton, Hoban.

Subs used: Evans (Hylton 77), Lundstram (Rose 77), Unused subs: Slocombe, Long, Wright, Ruffels, MacDonald.

Booked: Hylton, Rose.

Forest Green Rov (4-5-1): Arnold, Bennett (Pipe 41), Clough, Racine, Jennings, Wedgbury, Carter (Williams 79), Sinclair, Frear, Guthrie (Marsh-Brown 79), Parkin.

Unused subs: O'Connor, Kelly, Sam-Yorke, Maxted.

Booked: Sinclair.

Referee: Rob Lewis (Shropshire).

Attendance: 4,618 (619 visitors).