FOREST Green Rovers' return to League Two began with defeat on opening-day as Salford City won 2-0 at The Bolt New Lawn. 

A Conor McAleny strike and late substitute Matt Smith’s header were enough for all three points against opponents who had not lost an opening-day game since 2016.

Rovers should have taken the lead through Tyrese Omotoye, but his header from a Charlie McCann cross went over the top on 12 minutes.

Matty Stevens was next to come close and he connected with a Callum Jones corner, but the forward was denied by the crossbar and City scrambled to safety.

McAleny took full advantage of a set-piece not dealt with by Forest Green as he fired home right-footed from six yards out after the break.

Callum Hendry passed up a huge opportunity to make it two after Dom Bernard’s clearance could only find the City number nine but he blazed over.

Experienced forward Smith doubled Salford’s tally late in the day after he nodded home Luke Bolton’s cross.

For the recently appointed David Horseman, it was a tough start to life in League Two with a Forest Green side who have only won once in 2023.

Rovers boss Horseman has taken his first senior role with Rovers and is looking to build on the performance despite the result.

"If that’s a top-seven team and we’re just starting out in our project, we’re not a million miles off," said Horseman.

"It was a really high-quality game, we more than held our own but to win games we’ve got to show that extra quality and patience around the final third.

"It might take a little bit more time to compete with the top sides but we’ll turn this around, there was enough on show to say that today."

Forest Green are back in action on Tuesday night when they host Portsmouth in the EFL League Cup.