Nathan Thomas hit a hat-trick for the visitors as Forest Green Rovers fell to a 4-1 defeat at home to Carlisle United.

Thomas struck twice in three first-half minutes to give the Cumbrians a two-goal cushion at the break before getting his third from the penalty spot two minutes into the second period.

Josh Kayode made it four, minutes later, before Carl Winchester struck from the penalty spot for a consolation goal for the home side.

Head coach Mark Cooper made three changes to the side from the game with Macclesfield Town three days earlier.

Jevani Brown missed out through injury, replaced by Aaron Collins behind the striker, while Liam Shephard returned from his time on the sidelines and George Williams made the bench for the first time since breaking his leg on the opening day of the season.

The first chance of the game fell FGR’s way in the fifth minute from a set-piece when Odin Bailey’s delivery to the back post was met by the head of Liam Kitching. However, his header was back across goal, rather than troubling Adam Collin and Carlisle were able to hack clear.

Shephard’s involvement proved short lived as he was down punching the ground in angst in the 15th minute, pulling his hamstring stretching for a ball close to the touchline, having just been involved in a good build up down the left that saw Aaron Collin fire wide of the target.

It was the visitors who snatched the lead against the run of play in the 23rd minute however, with a goal out of nothing.

Kayode got to the byline and drilled the ball low, across the six-yard box, Thomas getting the right side of his man in the middle to prod home.

FGR were left truly shell-shocked three minutes later when, like Saturday, they were victim of another wonder strike, Thomas pinching the ball down the left flank before eyeing it up and hitting a peach that nestled into the far corner of the net.

Forest Green went about trying to build their way back into the contest and went close just a minute later when Rob Hall cut in off the right and his shot from the edge of the box was palmed over the bar well.

It was Hall again in the 32nd minute who was looking to unlock the Carlisle defence, his curling low ball just out of the reach of the sliding bodies of Collins and Josh March.

Cooper tried to make an impact, replacing Collins for Elliott Frear at the break, but within two minutes of the restart, it was Carlisle who were striking again.

A ball over the top was latched onto by Jack Bridge, who was adjudged to have been fouled in the box by Matt Mills.

Conrad Logan guessed the right way from the spot kick but was beaten by a well placed shot from Thomas, finding the side netting to complete his hat-trick.

Carlisle well and truly had the wind in their sails and were only denied a fourth in the 48th minute by the woodwork as Lewis Alessandra’s curling effort came back off the post and FGR were able to block the rebound behind for a corner.

However, it was a short-lived reprieve as the corner was allowed to bounce in the box and after a scramble of bodies on the floor, Kayode was able to prod through the crowd and wheel away to celebrate.

Forest Green were able to pull a goal back in the 59th minute from the penalty spot after March was tripped in the box.

Winchester took charge of penalty duties, hitting the ball down the middle and under the body of Adam Collin.

However, it proved little more than consolation as the game held very few chances for the remaining 30 minutes.

As the board went up with five minutes added time, Dom Bernard delivered a cross that Collin couldn't hold onto but Winchester's follow up was blocked by the keeper.

There was still time for Kitching’s through ball to take a deflection off Byron Webster into the path of Matty Stevens, putting him through one-on-one and Adam Collin guessed the right way to deny him.

Forest Green XI: Logan, Shephard (Bernard 16’), M Mills, Rawson, Winchester (c), Collins (Frear 45’), Adams, Hall (Stevens 57’), Kitching, March, Bailey

Unused subs: Thomas, Williams, Dawson, Aitchison

Macclesfield XI: Collin (c), Hayden (Hunt 60’), Thomas, M Jones, Alessandra (Scougall 73’), Watt, G Jones, Webster, Bridge, Kayode (Loft 81’), Anderton

Unused subs: Gray, Iredale, Charters, Sagaf

Referee: Brett Huxtable

Attendance: 1,540 (97)

Man of the match: Carl Winchester

Match sponsor: Tax Assist Accountants

Ball sponsor: Kerry Gas Engineers

Next time out: Grimsby Town, Blundell Park, Saturday, February 1, 3.00pm