Cardiff City emerged victorious at The New Lawn, stunning Rovers with five clinical first-half goals.
The Bluebirds overcame Robbie Savage’s side in FGR’s second home pre-season fixture, showing their quality with a dominant performance.
Chris Willock demonstrated his class from the outset, completing an impressive hat-trick within just 36 minutes.
Isaak Davies opened the scoring early on, before Yousef Salech added to the tally with a powerful low strike.
Kyle Kelly managed to pull one back on his debut, finding the top corner with a deflected second-half effort to round off the scoring.
First Half
Forest Green created the first opening of the afternoon when James Berry slipped through the defensive line, but Will Fish was alert to block the effort.
Cardiff soon took the lead through Davies, finishing off a slick move that started deep in their own half.
Ronan Kpakio found the winger, who composedly tucked the ball into the net.
Shortly after, Willock doubled the lead.
After Salech capitalised on a loose touch in the FGR box, Kyle Ajayi initially blocked the shot, but Willock was quickest to pounce on the rebound.
Willock secured his second just seven minutes later, finding space on the edge of the area before curling a precise strike past a fully-stretched Pagel.
Salech then extended the lead further, driving into the box after being played in by Davies and firing a low shot past Pagel.
The visitors were awarded a penalty late in the half when Salech’s chipped effort struck the crossbar and rebounded onto the arm of Sean Etaluku.
Despite protests, Willock stepped up to convert the spot-kick into the bottom corner, sealing his hat-trick before the break.
Half-Time: Forest Green Rovers 0-5 Cardiff City
Second Half
Despite the daunting scoreline, Rovers' heads didn't drop, and they produced a much better second-half display.
Kyle McAllister teed up Neil Kengni, though his attempt was safely gathered by Nathan Trott.
Jayden Clarke thought he had pulled a goal back when he found the net, but the celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.
FGR eventually found their breakthrough via debutant Kelly, who finished off a neat passing sequence on the left and saw his rifled shot deflected past a stationary Trott.
Kengni almost added a second for the hosts shortly after, but his curling effort drifted just wide of the post.
It really was a game of two halves against a very well-drilled Championship side.
Forest Green conclude their pre-season schedule with home fixtures against Bristol City U21s on Wednesday and Swindon Town on August 1st.
Tickets available here: https://fgrl.ink/h
Full-Time: Forest Green Rovers 1-5 Cardiff City
Lineups:
Forest Green: Pagel, Agina (Pemberton 58’), Obi, Ajayi (C), Kengni, Campbell, Ewing (Clarke 58’), Etaluku (Kelly 46’), McAllister, Berry (Osude 58’), Mellor (Patrick 69’)
Subs (not used): Godfrey, Marquez, Conteh, Walsh, Kircough, Haughton
Cardiff City: Trott (Tyrer 69’), Kpakio, Fish, Osho (Katsukunya 69’), Bagan (Thomas 69’), Robertson (King 64’), Turnbull (Anyadike 79’), Colwill, Willock (Tanner 46’), Salech (Tankiewicz 69'), Davies (Moreno 69’)
Subs (not used): Turner, James, Robinson, Williams
Attendance: 2,755 (1,786)
