Young Gunners prove too good for Forest Green

FOREST Green Rovers manager Mark Cooper made seven changes to the side that lost at Lincoln City last week ahead of last night’s Checkatrade Trophy game against Freddie Ljungberg’s Arsenal Under-21s.

However, the reshuffle which saw the introduction the likes of James Montgomery, Ben Morris and Isaac Pearce, was unable to prevent Forest Green slipping to a 3-1 defeat at The New Lawn in front of a crowd of 1,602.

The hosts started the brighter of the two sides and dominated possession in the early stages but struggled to create a clear opening inside the first quarter of an hour. Their first chance came via the right boot of striker Ben Morris as he fired across goal from range, but his effort dropped just wide.

The young Arsenal side then seemed to grow into the game before Joe Willock opened the scoring from the spot after 41 minutes. Bukayo Saka had picked the ball up inside his own half and ran at the Rovers box before being brought down by George Williams, the referee pointing straight to the penalty spot. Just two minutes later the visitors doubled their advantage as Matt Worthington lost possession before Willock was slid through on goal and once again found the net with a tidy finish.

Although Dayle Grubb, pictured, handed Rovers a lifeline just after the hour mark, Tyreece John-Jules rounded off the encounter with five minutes remaining.