FOREST Green Rovers fell to a narrow defeat to Leeds United in their first pre-season friendly at the New Lawn. 

Goals from Kemar Roofe and Luke Ayling gave Marcelo Bielsa's men a comfortable lead in the first half as the second tier side showed their class. 

Dayle Grubb pulled one back with a lovely strike from 25 yards out but Forest Green rarely threatened to stage a comeback. 

Mark Cooper selected six of his 11 new signings. James Montgomery, who joined from Gateshead was given the nod in goal while Liam Shephard and Joseph Mills started in the full-back positions. 

Former Cheltenham Town captain Carl Winchester started in midfield while George Williams and Lloyd James made up the new boys who began. 

On a pleasing note, Christian Doidge started up top with Reuben Reid and Rovers fans will be praying that is still the case come August 4. 

The game had a typical pre-season feel in the opening ten minutes. Inevitably, the Championship side's quality came through and they took the lead after 15 minutes when Kemar Roofe fired home from close range as Rovers failed to deal with a Pablo Hernandez corner. 

There was a good initial reaction from Forest Green who went up and won a corner straight away but Marcelo Bielsa's men remained in control and doubled their lead on 24 minutes after a good move down the left saw Adam Forshaw's cross find Roofe who squared it to Luke Ayling on the right and the full-back bent the ball into the far corner. 

The Championship side should have been 3-0 up with five minutes of the half to go when Stuart Dallas' first time cross found Roofe who was three yards out but he miscued his effort and it fell straight into Montgomery's arms. 

With seconds of the half remaining, Cooper's men were back in it. Dayle Grubb found space on the left just outside the area, he cut in on his right and fired a shot past Bailey Peacock-Farrell in the Leeds net and into the top corner. 

It was Rovers' first clear effort on goal. 

Cooper made two changes at half time. Reece Brown and Theo Archibald replaced Reuben Reid and George Williams. 

Montgomery, one of three new goalkeepers, gave Cooper two good reasons to select him as first choice come August 4 with to fine saves. 

The first came from a drilled shot by Dallas which looked destined for the bottom corner but the former Gateshead stopper did well to stretch out his arm and tip it round the post. The second saw him quickly off his line to close down Alioski's shot after a slick Leeds move. 

Leeds were impressive throughout, particularly Pablo Hernandez and Alioski. Despite their dominance, Rovers had good chances to equalise. 

Mills broke on the left and crossed for Doidge who forced Bailey Peacok-Farrell into a decent save with a first time shot. 

Five minutes later, substitute Theo Archibald found himself with time to shoot inside the area but his attempt was straight at the keeper.

The half began as it ended, with Montgomery making another fine save. Samuel Saiz slipped in a beautiful through ball to Hernandez who was one on one but Montgomery came out quick and stopped the shot well low to his right. 

He has surely put himself in pole position to be Cooper's number one against Grimsby Town in the league. 

Rovers in the end fell short, Leeds perhaps should have scored more but equally, Forest Green held their own in the second half.