GARY OWERS certainly won't be popping any champagne corks with assistant Shaun Taylor- until he can be certain Forest Green will be playing Conference football in their brand new stadium this summer.

A brace from Guy Madjo and goals from Alex Meechan, Julian Alsop, who got off his sick-bed, and substitute Scott Rendell stretched Rovers' unbeaten run to eight games as they thumped 10 men Altrincham 5-0 at The Lawn on Saturday.

Owers was again at his dogmatic best as he summed up another bright day for his resurgent Nailsworth side.

Fantastic performance

He said: "It was a fantastic performance, I'm not trying to put the dampers on it, but we haven't done anything yet.

"People are getting excited, but we're still near the foot of the league, but we are moving in the right direction."

Earlier, Forest Green began exceedingly brightly. Jon Richardson saw his header palmed over. From the resulting Johnnie Hayes corner, Richardson's header smacked the bar leaving Matt Gadsby to fizz the free-ball over.

It was all Rovers. Meechan should have scored when he dragged his shot wide after combining with Alsop and Madjo. However the pressure brought the opening Rovers craved. Madjo's strength induced a free kick, Alsop flicked Richardson's ball on into the path of Meechan, but it was Madjo who appeared to get the final touch despite Meechan's claims.

Owers was happy to credit the goal to Meechan, but warned Meechan of the Madjo factor.

Owers said: "If Meech (Alex Meechan) wants to claim it he can go and claim it, but if he is going to fight with Guy (Guy Madjo) I know who will win."

Hayes, so impressive in the win against Dorchester watched his stinging strike palmed away by Coburn from Madjo's pass. That man Madjo was behind Alsop's 18th-minute goal. Madjo released Meechan to fire in a cross that saw Alsop dive in front of the scramblingCoburn. Meechan and Madjo threatened further goals, but fractious controversy engulfed the Lawn 10 minutes before the break. Warren Peyton clashed with Gadsby off the ball and with Gadsby on the floor, referee Steve Bratt consulted his assistant and produced a red card for Peyton.

Heathcote off

The tempo rose, and in the commotion Altrincham boss Graham Heathcote was asked to leave the dugout. With calm restored, Paul Wanless' free kick was spectacularly pushed away by Coburn. Rovers smelled further goals after the break. Gadsby saw his shot cleared off the line and then Alsop saw his goal from a well-worked free kick ruled out after Meechan strayed offside.

Adam Garner replaced the limping Richardson, but Rovers remained in the ascendancy.

Ryan Clarke, who enjoyed a quiet day, was forced to acrobatically foil Colin Little's volley after an hour. However, Rovers stretched the defecit on 66 minutes. Hayes charged down a clearance and burst into the box, which allowed a simple Meechan tap in.

It was four seven minutes later. Clarke's confident punch dropped to Sekani Simpson, Alsop found Wanless in space. The former Oxford United man picked out Madjo, who finished with ease for his second,and seventh goal in as many games.

Beesley return

The loudest roar of the day was reserved for the arrival of substitute Mark Beesley, who returned after 10 months of rehabilitation following knee ligament surgery. Beesley almost made a dream return. His first touch saw him turn and strike a shot that brought a diving response from Coburn. Rendell wrapped the game up in the dying minutes. He made up for an earlier miss to sweep in from Gadsby's cross-field pass.

Forest Green ratings: Clarke 6, Simpson 7, Richardson 7 (Garner 55, 7), Graham 8, Searle 7, Meechan 8, Wanless 7, Gadsby 7, Hayes 7, (Rendell 70, 6), Alsop 8, (Beesley 77, 7), Madjo 8. Goals: Madjo 12, Alsop 18, Meechan 66, Madjo 73, Rendell 88. Star player: Guy Madjo Attendance: 995 .