Forest Green Rovers bowed out of the Leasing.com Trophy after a much-changed side fell to a 6-0 defeat away to Walsall.

A hat-trick from Josh Gordon set the hosts on their way inside 47 minutes before FGR were reduced to 10 men for the final 40 minutes of the game.

Goals from Wes McDonald, Liam Kinsella and a 90th minute header from Cameron Norman wrapped up a comfortable and much-needed win for the home side.

Mark Cooper rung the changes for the match following Saturday’s FA Cup win over Billericay Town, with Aaron Collins the lone survivor from the starting XI.

In came a host of youth, with three Under 18 players earning a spot in the team, including two 16-year-olds Harvey Bunker and Vaughn Covil, alongside Isaiah Jones, while five academy products were named on the bench.

While Darrell Clarke made seven changes to his side, he brought in experience as he looked to get their season up and running.

The breakthrough for the hosts came in the 23rd minute when the ball worked down the right well through Caolan Lavery, whose cross low across the box is tapped in by Gordon coming in.

Gordon was celebrating his second of the game 10 minutes later when he again was set up by Lavery and this time was invited to drive to the edge of the box, before firing the ball low into the far corner, giving Smith little chance.

Things didn’t get better for Forest Green in the second half as Gordon continued to cause the visitors a headache.

Just two minutes after the restart, the Walsall forward was driving to the edge of the box. He looked to play in Rory Holden, but great defending from Nathan McGinley saw him intercept and then clear behind for a corner, which came to nothing, under pressure.

However, less than two minutes later, Tom Nield was pointing at the spot when ball in from the right as adjudged to have struck the right arm of Matt Mills.

Gordon stepped up and converted well from the spot after a slow run up, sending Smith the wrong way.

Things went from bad to worse for Rovers in the wake of the goal as Aaron Collins talked his way into a double booking in the space of second and was given his marching orders before the restart, after what seemed like a prolonged conversation with match official Nield on the halfway line.

The floodgates were now well and truly open and Walsall were in rampant form as they netted their fourth in the 73rd minute.

Holden was able to set the ball wide to McDonald, who was a constant threat, and he curled his effort past Smith.

It was a fifth for the Saddlers less than two minutes later as Smith made a superb save to deny substitute Elijah Adebayo from close range, but the ball fell to Kinsella on the edge of the box and he connected sweetly to beat Smith at the second attempt.

The game was wrapped up as the fourth official was attempting to put Rovers out of their misery, raising the board for time added on.

Holden delivered a free-kick in from the left and Norman rose highest in the middle of the box to head home with power.

Walsall starting XI: Roberts, Norman, Scarr, Kinsella, Lavery (Hardy 59’), Gordon (Adebayo 59’), Holden, Bates (Kiersey 68’), Cockerill-Mollett, McDonald, Liddle

Unused subs: Rose, Sadler, Roberts, Jules

Forest Green XI: Smith, M Mills (c) (Dawson 63’), Collins, Morton, McGinley, Godwin-Malife, Mondal, Taylor, I Jones, Covil (D Jones 63’), Bunker (Artwell 63’)

Unused subs: Thomas, Saunders, Hill, Ogunleye

Attendance: 621 (67)

Referee: Tom Nield

Next time out: Plymouth Argyle, The New Lawn, Saturday, November 16, 3:00pm