Forest Green Rovers saw of their Gloucestershire rivals with consummate ease as they claimed all three points in the group.

Dayle Grubb opened the scoring after 14 minutes before Tahvon Campbell smashed home a second shortly after the break.

George Williams and Isaac Pearce then rounded the night off as they both bagged their first goals in FGR colours.

Mark Cooper made seven changes to the side that won 3-1 at Notts County on Saturday as Ben Morris, Nathan McGinley and Matt Worthington all came in to make their home debuts.

In what has become a bit of a pattern this season, Forest Green took the initiative early on and soon found themselves driving forward time and time again.

Having signed last week and made his debut on Saturday, McGinley was keen to continue his positive start and began this game brightly as well. With nine minutes on the clock he did brilliantly to break from defence and drive down the right before seeing his powerful cross blocked behind from a corner.

As was the case with McGinley’s run, forward movement was coming from all over the place for FGR and they soon had another corner as George Williams and Liam Shephard linked up down the right before the latter saw his cross blocked behind for another set-piece.

From the resulting ball in FGR took the lead as, after Worthington’s out-swinger bounced around the area, Grubb was on hand to pop up from the back post and smash the ball home.

Grubb had a chance to double his side’s lead with 16 minutes on the clock as Campbell did well to drive down the left before finding the goalscorer at the back post but his effort lacks power and doesn’t trouble the Cheltenham stopper.

Just before the half hour mark the hosts had another excellent chance as Shaphard once again showed good skills to beat his man before firing an effort on goal which Rhys Lovett could only parry clear.

Rovers started the second half in the same vein that they started the first and within just three minutes of the restart, Campbell had doubled their lead.

Once again it was a Worthington corner that lead to the goal but this time, as it fell to Campbell on the edge of the area, he had time to take a touch before firing a rocket into the top right-hand corner.

With 63 minutes on the clock Williams had a change down the right but despite escaping his man he couldn’t beat Lovett on the angle.

For the final 20 minutes of the encounter, Rovers slowed the pace somewhat and although their main focus was keeping the ball they were able to round the night off in style as Campbell slid Williams in with 85 minutes on the clock and the winger made no mistake as he calmly finished his first goal for the club.

Substitute Pearce almost added a fourth just before the 90th minute but after a brilliant interchange on the edge of the area, his effort was well saved.

Minutes later, he did find the net as he was played in and fired through the keeper to cap a great night for FGR fans.

Image: ProSports Images/Shane Healey

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