Forest Green Rovers continued their good start to the season with a comprehensive 3-1 win over10-man Notts County at Meadow Lane.

Liam Shephard opened the scoring after 29 minutes before Reuben Reid doubled his side's advantage just before the hour.

Substitute Jon Stead was able to pull one back with 20 minutes to play but the Rovers backline stayed strong and Dayle Grubb added a third from the bench with less than 10 minutes left as FGR claimed three important points.

From the first whistle the game burst into life and less than two minutes into the encounter Farrend Rawson had a good opportunity to hand the visitors the opening goal.

Carl Winchester did well down the left-hand side to hold the ball up and win a free kick and although Lloyd James’ ball into the area was excellent, Rawson couldn’t quite keep his glancing header down and the ball flew over from eight yards.

For the hosts it was Dan Jones who looked the most dangerous going forward with several good runs down the left flank but it was from one of these that FGR were able to break well.

Following Nathan McGinley’s clearance, Winchester’s clever flicked pass found Reece Brown and although he did well to get down the right his cross was eventually blocked into the keeper’s arms.

Forest Green continued to look the better side and apart from another delivery from Jones which flashed across the face of Robert Sanchez’s goal, the Spaniard and his defenders remained relatively untroubled.

As the half-hour mark approached Rovers were playing some very nice, fluid football and with 25 minutes on the clock Reid went close after bringing the ball down on the edge of the area but unfortunately, he couldn’t keep his effort down and it flashed just over.

The deadlock was finally broken with 29 minutes on the clock as FGR got what they deserved.

After yet more impressive build up play from the visitors the ball eventually worked its way out to Lloyd James who lofted an excellent ball into the area and although it was half cleared out of Winchester’s path, the ball couldn’t have dropped more nicely for Liam Shephard and the full-back smashed home.

Minutes later, County went as close as they would come in the first half as Sanchez was caught out from a free kick and Jones’ ball in was glanced just over.

Notts County were dealt a huge blow with 52 minutes on the clock as Jones was given his marching orders by referee Peter Wright for a rash, two-footed challenge on James infront of the dugouts.

Five minutes later Forest Green thought they had doubled their advantage from a corner but Rawson’s header struck Brown on the line who was adjudged to have been offside.

The visitors continued to keep up the pressure and just two minutes later they did find a second as Winchester excellently spread the ball to through to Reid who brought it down well before firing across the keeper and into the back of the net from the edge of the area.

Reid thought he would have a shot at a second goal of the afternoon after being brought down in the area while uncoiling to shot but the referee waved play on.

Just after the hour mark Harry Kewell made a changed and Stead entered the fray from the bench and less than 10 minutes later he had pulled one back for the hosts.

The big forward did well to hold the ball up in the area before turning his defender and firing underneath Sanchez from close range.

The hosts looked to push for an equaliser but after a sustained spell of pressure they were caught out on the break as Reid drove through the middle before sliding in Grubb who stayed calm and slotted home into the far corner of Ross Fitzsimons goal.

Deep into the five minutes of added on time, Forest Green felt they had another solid penalty claim turned down as George Williams was caught late in the box as he tried to deliver a cross.

With the full-time whistle moments away Rov ers had yet another chance as Joseph Mills drove forward and fired inches wide from the edge of the area.

Images: ProSports Images/Shane Healey