FOREST Green brushed aside a youthful Bristol Rovers to make it four wins in five pre-season matches.

Manager Dave Hockaday would have been pleased with first-half strikes from Reece Styche and Ross Dyer. Harry Pell’s own goal gave Forest Green a 3-0 advantage at the break.

Bristol Rovers were fortunate not to fall behind on four minutes when an unmarked Lee Smith headed wide. However, at the other end Lamar Powell fired straight at keeper James Bittner, who is yet to be beaten during pre-season.

The Nailsworth side went ahead on 11 minutes. Lee Fowler’s corner saw Lee Ayres’ shot ricocheted into the path of Styche, who nudged home from close range.

Forest Green doubled their lead five minutes later, Dyer smashed a volley into the net from 20 yards.

Gas goalkeeper Sam Butler produced a smart save to deny Dyer in the 29th minute. From the resulting Fowler corner an acrobatic Styche scissor-kick was cleared off the line by George Booth.

However, Forest Green made it 3-0 in the 34th minute, as Butler dashed off his line to cut out Steve Davies’ cross and punched straight to Smith who saw his shot hit the unfortunate Pell and into the empty net.

On-trial Forest Green duo Ben Gerring and Yan Klukowski were introduced at half-time A fine save from Bittner on the hour mark preserved Forest Green’s 3-0 lead.

Butler did well to reach a Fowler free-kick from 22 yards.

Gerring could have stretched Forest Green’s lead further, while substitute Jon Else fizzed wide.

Forest Green: J. Bittner; J. Hodgkiss, L. Jones, L. Ayres (B. Gerring 46), C. Armstrong (B. Pugh 75); L. Smith, I. Herring, L. Fowler (O. Cleaver 69), S. Davies (J. Else 69); R. Dyer, R. Styche (Y. Klukowski 46).

Subs not used: C. Henry, J. Baldwin, M. Etheridge, G. Carlin.

Bristol Rovers: S. Butler; G. Booth (R. Maggs 46), J. Tillson, T. Seery, M. Cooper; E. Richards, H. Pell, C. Clough, C. Reece (D. Jefferies 46), O. Clarke; L. Powell.

Subs not used: J. McKenna, A. Hoyle, J. Camm.

Referee: W. Barrett (Worcs).

Attendance: 727.

Star man: Ross Dyer.