Forest Green Rovers made an emphatic return to league action as they defeated Maidenhead United 4-1 at York Road on Saturday afternoon.

First-half strikes from Harvey Bunker and Charlie McCann gave Rovers a two-goal lead at the break.

A header from Magpies defender Will De Havilland brought the home side back into the game midway through the second period goals from Jordan Moore-Taylor and substitute Teddy Jenks soon after saw Rovers come away with a comprehensive victory on the road.

After a cagey opening 15 minutes, the first chance of the game fell to the away side.

Charlie McCann brought down the ball just outside of the Maidenhead box and found his midfield partner Harvey Bunker who fired just wide of the far post.

Rovers would break the deadlock just a minute later through the lively Bunker.

Striker Joe Quigley flashed the ball across the face of goal and the 21-year-old made no mistake from six yards out.

Rovers almost doubled their lead soon after when Adam May’s cross found winger Tom Knowles, whose effort was well saved by Craig Ross in the Maidenhead goal.

Steve Cotterill’s side would grab their second of the afternoon 10 minutes before the break.

McCann pounced on a loose ball inside the Magpies’ half and his strike found the bottom corner to give Rovers a deserved two goal lead at the interval.

This lead, however, would be halved midway through the second period.

A free-kick from keeper Ross found defender De Havilland who rose highest and headed the ball home.

The two-goal cushion would be restored almost immediately through Captain Jordan Moore-Taylor.

The instrumental McCann delivered a cross to the back post which Moore-Taylor finished from close range.

Rovers would grab their fourth of the afternoon through substitute Teddy Jenks in the 80th minute.

Jenks timed his run to perfection to get in behind the Maidenhead back line and with his first touches of the game, superbly lifted the ball over Ross and into the top corner.

The away side almost added a fifth late on, but substitute Harry Cardwell would be denied by the woodwork as his strike cannoned back off the post.

The result sees Rovers stay second in the league table and just a point behind leaders York City, who are the visitors to The New Lawn next Saturday in a 5:30PM kick off.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Maidenhead United: Ross; Welch-Hayes, Lokko, De Havilland, Latty-Fairweather (Cochrane 75); Pettit, Barratt (Abrahams 46), Ferdinand, Ferguson (Carvalho 46), Smith; McCoulsky (Sho-Silva 75).

Subs not used: Collins, Massey, Ajose.

Forest Green Rovers: Ward; Long (Omotoye 89), Tozer, Moore-Taylor, Robson (Lavinier 86); McCann (Doidge 89), May, Bunker; McAllister, Quigley (Cardwell 72), Knowles (Jenks 79).

Sub not used: Searle.

Attendance: 1,256.