FOREST GREEN lost 4-1 at home against Crewe despite leading at half-time.

Reece Brown opened the scoring for Forest Green but the visitors turned on the style after the break to record a comfortable win.

Reece Welch was denied at point-black range following a corner but Brown took full advantage as he slammed home the loose ball after 35 minutes.

Goals from Chris Long, Elliot Nevitt and an eight-minute brace from Courtney Baker-Richardson saw the Railwaymen clinch all three points in a fine second-half display.

Rovers failed to deal with a bouncing ball and Long capitalised as he drove into the area and slid under goalkeeper Luke Daniels to level matters.

Baker-Richardson then powered home a Joel Tabiner corner directed towards the near post just after the hour mark as Crewe took the lead.

Baker-Richardson added a third as he hammered home a right-footed effort from the edge of the area after Rovers failed to clear after 69 minutes.

While Long drove to the byline and delivered a low cross for substitute Nevitt to tap home a fourth for the rampant visitors.

Frustrated Forest Green boss David Horseman said: “Our fans don’t deserve anything like what they witnessed today.

“The manner of the goals we conceded were extremely poor and we really lacked quality today. We’ve made strides but today is a big reality check for sure.

“It’s probably now the time you’re thinking that you can see what happened last season.

"There is an underlying soft culture, you can see the goal, it’s our fault then suddenly we fold completely.”

Crewe manager Lee Bell was full of praise as they recorded successive League Two wins.

He said: “Our away form over 18 months has been horrific and it’s something we’ve looked at.

“It’s back-to-back wins so I can’t praise the players enough. A really good afternoon so I’ll enjoy it tonight.

“The scoreline flattered them going into half-time. We could’ve had two or three goals.

“I don’t think they could handle Courtney (Baker-Richardson) in the air and (Elliot) Nevitt came on and they couldn’t handle him either.”