BRIMSCOMBE 1

FOREST GREEN 9

THE gulf in class was almost tangible as Forest Green hit plucky minnows Brimscombe for nine.

Mark Cooper’s side certainly gave Sam Prior’s Hellenic Premier Division part-time outfit a chasing as their superior class told from start-to-finish.

Braces from Liam Noble, Elliott Frear and Christian Doidge were supplemented with strikes from Rob Sinclair and penalties for Kieffer Moore and Keanu Marsh-Brown.

Cooper named a strong side after the 3-2 win at Slimbridge just 24 hours earlier against a Brimscombe side, who play for the love of the game - and credit was certainly due as they kept their heads despite being given a footballing masterclass at their picturesque Meadow stadium.

Rovers nosed ahead on six minutes as the goal avalanche started.

Goalkeeper Sam Russell stepped out of his box to play it short to Dale Bennett, who clipped a ball to the scampering Frear for Noble to pick his spot beyond the sprawling Lewis Skyers.

Four minutes later it was two – Noble returned the assist for Frear to fizz home.

Noble was at the fulcrum of everything good in Rovers' play and it was his pass to maverick Marsh-Brown, who hit a trademark thunderbolt that forced Skyers did well to glove away.

Cooper wants Rovers to be comfortable at the back and defender Charlie Clough strode confidently out only for his leggy run to end on the edge of the box after a meaty Chris Greenough and Ben Deakin sandwich.

The Lilywhites flickered into life, but Clough blunted a fast break to deny Ollie Pitt .

Rovers continued to flow and Dan Hill caught the fleet-footed Frear for Moore to send Skyers the wrong way from the penalty spot for a 24th minute third.

Sykers was having a busy night and he did well to throw up a strong glove to frustrate Sinclair.

Seconds later he fingered a Marsh-Brown free-kick over the bar as the ball arrowed towards the top corner.

The goal tide rolled on as the irrepressible Noble claimed his second and Rovers’ fourth of the night - smashing beyond Skyers following a mazy Marsh-Brown run.

Before the break three goals came in four mad minutes.

Rovers made it five when Kyle Pitts squandered possession for Moore to tee-up strike partner Doidge on 41 minutes, and a minute later it was six – Sinclair finishing sweetly.

Despite the one-way traffic, Brimscombe got on the scoresheet just two minutes later. Marsh-Brown tripped the scampering Ben Snook to hand Pitt a chance from the penalty spot, and despite Russell guessing right, the ball nestled into the bottom corner.

Cooper made one change at the break, bringing on Dutch trialist Dani Deelen, a right-sided 18-year-old defender, who trained with the team this morning after arriving overnight from Eindhoven.

Brimscombe made three half-time changes in an effort to find some fresh legs.

Rovers continued to hold sway with Noble was a whisker away from his hat-trick, but he screwed wide following neat combination play from Doidge and Moore.

Brimscombe were chasing shadows and Rovers made it seven on 53 minutes. Moore’s clever back- flick saw Noble cut the Lilywhites open for Doidge to bank his second.

A fine Skyers glove frustrated Moore as Rovers hunted more goals.

The impish Tom Anderson entered the party for Rovers and the academy fledgling quickly found his feet.

Ethan Pinnock stepped into midfield and certainly looked comfortable in his new role.

Rovers made it eight when Brimscombe’s Tom Pass handled Moore’s strike to allow Marsh-Brown to finish from the spot with 25 minutes to go.

Frear made it nine as he cut across the box for his second on 70 minutes.

Cooper brought on Blake Davies and Olly Mehew for strikers Moore and Doidge with 16 minutes to go.

Skyers deserved much credit and he kept the score from reaching double figures with a fine point-blank save from Davies after a sublime Noble pass.

Brimscombe: L Skyers, D Hill, J Bish, A Caldwell, K Pitts, C Greenough, B Deakin, B Snook, J Smith, S Blackie, O Pitt.

Subs used: D Woodfield, J Yeo, T Pass, J Brodie, J Jones, T Black.

Forest Green: S Russell; C Clough, E Pinnock, D Bennett; J Stokes, R Sinclair, L Noble, E Frear, K Marsh-Brown; K Moore, C Doidge.

Sub used: O Mehew, B Davies, T Anderson, D Deelen

Refree: A Berrow.

Attendance: 440

Star Man: Liam Noble. Scored two and pulled the strings in midfield for Rovers.