Forest Green Rovers moved top of the National League following their confident 3-1 victory over Ebbsfleet United at The New Lawn on Tuesday.

Steve Cotterill named just two changes to his side that won late on Saturday against Braintree Town with Sean Long and Christian Doidge returning to the starting XI.

And it didn’t take long for Rovers to fly in front as on 6 minutes Kyle McAllister fizzed a low effort from 18-yards into the bottom corner after the Fleet failed to clear a corner.

McAllister almost turned provider three minutes later after he slalomed across the penalty area before slipping through Emmanuel Osadebe who saw his close ranged effort well saved by Mark Cousins.

Straight down the other Jed Ward was called into action with an outrageous point-blank range save denying Dom Poleon a certain goal.

Rovers were starting to tick and on 31 minutes went close when Adam May’s bending effort was deflected just past the post and after some brilliant build-up play by McAllister and Charlie McCann.

McCann dazzled the Fleet defence, dancing past a couple of players, before having a low effort deflected wide following some more great link up play with Osadebe on 42 minutes.

Rovers started the second period as quickly as the first, doubling their lead just two minutes in when Tom Knowles’ cross was bundled over the line at the back post by Jamie Robson.

Two quickly became three on 52 minutes when Knowles bounded down on goal before drilling home his first official Rovers goal after his goal at Eastleigh was deemed an own goal.

The visitors grabbed a goal back in superb fashion on 71 minutes when Wes Fonguck struck a rising effort from 20-yards into the top corner.

Knowles could’ve had a second on 88 minutes when he cut back onto left foot but sent fired his effort over the bar as Rovers went on to move top of the tree.

Cotterill’s side are back in action on Saturday, October 26th, as we travel to Woking to kick off our back-to-back games on the road.

Match Highlights

Starting XI- Ward (GK), Robson (Tozer 90+4’), Inniss, Moore-Taylor ©, Long, May, McCann, Sercombe (Bunker 69’), Osadebe (Cardwell 90’), McAllister (Knowles 38), Doidge (Quigley 78’)

Unused Subs- Searle (GK), Maddox

Player of the Match- Charlie McCann

Attendance- 1,311 (66 away)