FOREST GREEN ROVERS 2

BRISTOL ROVERS 0

Forest Green look in rude health as they comfortably negated a jet-lagged Bristol Rovers.

The League Two newbies were indebted to Liam Noble’s first-half peach and a thumping Shamir Mullings’ header.

In truth, Bristol Rovers were running on empty after flying back in the small hours of Saturday morning from their pre-season training camp in Portugal.

After a raft on pre-season matches on the local non-league circuit, Forest Green knew they would face a stern test against their West Country rivals, who have their sights set on a League One promotion push.

On this evidence Forest Green could well have another promotion on their mind as they painted pretty pictures throughout.

In their first pre-season match on home soil, Rovers’ boss Mark Cooper named five of his summer signings, and took another look at West Brom teenager Jack Fitzwater.

Forest Green jumped straight into the driving seat. One-time Bristol Rovers youngster Christian Doidge opened his legs, and only a last-ditch Jonny Burn slider curtailed his goal intent.

The Gas were struggling to find any rhythm and it was Noble, who nosed his side ahead on 16 minutes – planting a delicious 25-yard free-kick beyond the outstretched glove of Adam Smith and into the inviting net.

Forest Green looked cohesive, but their opponents were off course. Gas left-back Lee Brown came close to pressing the self-destruct button – inexplicably passing the ball to Doidge, who drilled his shot into Smith from point-blank range.

Forest Green boast two goalkeepers of repute and the fight for the number one spot will be a fascinating ahead of the league opener next month. Brad Collins enhanced his case by throwing up a long lever to deny a rasping Bryon Moore drive.

The anticipated raft of half-time changes saw Bristol Rovers make five, but Forest Green remained unchanged.

The diminutive Luke James, a former Gas loanee, was just a smidge from making it 2-0 – his fizzer missing the bottom corner.

Forest Green replaced five players in the 65th-minute – Jordan Simpson coming on for his first start since arriving from Swindon Town this week.

The changes didn’t derail Forest Green and Cooper’s side made it 2-0 just two minutes later. The excellent Charlie Cooper picked out sub Shamir Mullings who used his neck muscles to nail a header beyond Smith.

Forest Green first half: B Collins; L Collins (Marsh-Brown 77), Monthe (Hallett 85), Fitzwater; Cooper (Trialist 71), Noble (Simpson 65), Bennett (Evans 65), Laird (Wishart 65); Brown (Bugiel 65); Doidge (Mullings 65), James (Mehew 71).

Bristol Rovers: Adam Smith (Sam Slocombe, 46), James Clarke, Tom Lockyer Rollin Menayese, 63), Jonny Burn Tom Broadbent, 46), Lee Brown (Marc Bola, 46), Chris Lines (Cameron Hargreaves, 63), Liam Sercombe (Luke Russe, 63), Ollie Clarke (Ellis Harrison, 46), Tom Nichols, Billy Bodin (Ryan Broom, 63), Byron Moore (Rory Gaffney, 46)

Referee: S Allison.

Attendance:1,589.

Star Man: Jack Fitzwater.