Aldershot Town 0

Forest Green 3

FOREST Green were box-office as they passed their live television screen test to return to the top of the National League in emphatic fashion.

Goals from Darren Carter, his first for Rovers and strikes from Kurtis Guthrie and leading scorer Aaron O’Connor, saw Rovers wrestle top spot off overnight leaders Cheltenham Town.

A man of superstition, Ady Pennock knew his side had failed to win in front of the BT Sport TV cameras, but he needn’t have worried.

Aldershot, apart from a bright opening, failed to match a Rovers side, who were previously without a win in five.

Earlier, Rovers were caught cold inside the first 15 seconds.

Straight from the kick-off the slippery Rhys Browne opened Rovers up, but Jonny Maxted did well to land on his skidding strike Rovers’ riposte was immediate - Keanu Marsh-Brown ‘s sumptuous strike was deflected wide.

It was certainly a breathtaking start with former Swindon Town goalkeeper Phil Smith turning a Marsh-Brown fizzer over.

However, Browne was proving a thorn in Rovers’ side as Pennock’s side struggled to cope with his direct forays.

Nonetheless , the Shots had Cheye Alexander to congratulate when he cleared a Jon Parkin stab off the line from a Rob Sinclair corner.

It was end-to-end and Maxted stood-up well to a Jim Stevenson rocket in an intense opening 20 minutes.

However, Rovers stepped on the gas and dominated the rest of the half as the Shots ran out of steam.

Carter showed the type of finishing that once saw him grace the Premier League as he curled home from the edge of the box. His sweet strike 38thth minute hit was helped by a neat Elliott Frear assist following a super byeline cross from the eager Dale Bennett.

If that goal was glorious, Rovers’ second just five minutes later, was sublime. Parkin’s deft touch saw Marsh-Brown to burst into the box and pick out Guthrie who clipped the ball over Smith for his fifth goal of the season.

Aldershot needed a positive second half start and former Forest Green striker Matthew Barnes-Homer almost found it following an uncharacteristic slip from Aarran Racine.

This proved to be his last slice of the action for Barnes-Homer who made way for Richard Brodie.

Only a stunning reflex save from Maxted kept Rovers’ lead intact. Marcus Kelly had beaten Browne to the ball but his back-heeled clearance gave Browne the chance to pick out Stevenson who planted his free header into the well positioned Maxted.

Carter was growing in confidence but would have been frustrated with his tame shot after picking up a Guthrie header. He came closer seconds later with a header onto the bar from a Frear corner.

Rovers made it three with four minutes to go. O’Connor wrapped it up with his seventh goal of the season. Rovers’ leading scorer took up a great position to strike cleanly beyond Smith from Parkin’s flick after a deep Kelly free-kick.

Maxted made it six clean sheets in 15 games with a late flying tip-over from Alexander.

Aldershot Town: P Smith; C Alexander, J Saville, O Beckles, N Anderton (T Richards 46); S Hatton (D Walker 76), D Lathrope, J Stevenson; R Browne; C Walker, M Barnes-Homer (R Brodie 51).

Subs not used: L Oliver, D Thomas.

Forest Green: J Maxted; D Bennett, D Jones (C Clough 88), A Racine, M Kelly; K Marsh-Brown (D Sam-Yorke 76), R Sinclair, D Carter, E Frear; J Parkin, K Guthrie (A O'Connor 83).

Subs not used: S Wedgbury, D Eve.

Referee: D Treleaven (Sussex).

Attendance: 1,353.

Star man: Dale Bennett.