New Lawn Monday, July 26th, 2010   1st Team Friendly Attendance: 727         Forest Green Rovers 3-0 Bristol Rovers
2010 /11

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THE GAS SHUT OFF BY HOCKADAY’S MEN FOREST GREEN ROVERS 3 – 0 BRISTOL ROVERS Supplied by www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk FOREST Green dismantled an extremely youthful Bristol Rovers outfit to register their fourth win in five pre-season matches. Dave Hockaday would have been especially pleased with first-half strikes from Reece Styche and Ross Dyer, likely to be the duo spearheading his attack on the opening day of the Blue Square Bet Premier campaign. Harry Pell’s own goal gave Forest Green a 3-0 advantage at the break, after which the Pirates steered their way to clearer waters and Hockaday cast his eye over less established members of his squad. Bristol Rovers’ defensive frailties were obvious very early on, and they were fortunate not to fall behind on four minutes when an unmarked Lee Smith headed wide. Similarly lapse play at the other end gave Lamar Powell a clear sight of goal, but he fired straight at keeper James Bittner. The opener arrived in the 11th minute when the visitors failed to deal with Lee Fowler’s corner. Trialist Lee Ayres’ shot ricocheted into the path of Styche, who prodded home from close range. Five minutes later Forest Green doubled their lead in far more spectacular fashion, Dyer pouncing on a weak clearance by Tom Seery and smashing a volley into the net from 20 yards. Diminutive Bristol Rovers goalkeeper Sam Butler was in for a harrowing night, but he did produce a flying save to deny Dyer in the 29th minute. From the resulting Fowler corner an acrobatic Styche scissor-kick was cleared off the line by George Booth. It was 3-0 in the 34th minute, as Butler dashed off his line to cut out Steve Davies’ cross and punched straight to Smith. The winger’s shot struck the unfortunate Pell and trickled cruelly into the unguarded net. On-trial duo Ben Gerring and Yan Klukowski were introduced by Hockaday at half-time, the latter lining up against his former employers. Bristol Rovers also summoned a couple of substitutes in Robbie Maggs and midfielder Darren Jefferies, who brought a fine plunging save from Bittner on the hour mark. Six minutes later Butler did well to reach a Fowler free-kick from 22 yards that looked destined for the top corner. Ex-Plymouth defender Gerring could have stretched Forest Green’s lead further, nodding wide after finding himself clear at the far post, while substitute Jon Else was wayward with an ambitious drive. Forest Green: J. Bittner: J. Hodgkiss, L. Jones, L. Ayres (B. Gerring 46), C. Armstrong (B. Pugh 75): L. Smith, I. Herring, L. Fowler (O. Cleaver 69), S. Davies (J. Else 69): R. Dyer, R. Styche (Y. Klukowski 46): Subs not used: C. Henry, J. Baldwin, M. Etheridge, G. Carlin. Bristol Rovers: S. Butler: G. Booth (R. Maggs 46), J. Tillson, T. Seery, M. Cooper: E. Richards, H. Pell, C. Clough, C. Reece (D. Jefferies 46), O. Clarke: L. Powell: Subs not used: J. McKenna, A. Hoyle, J. Camm. Referee: W. Barrett (Worcs) Attendance: 727 Star man: Ross Dyer