Tyrese Omotoye’s first-half double saw Forest Green Rovers defeat Melksham Town 2-0 in their second pre-season friendly.

Steve Cotterill followed up Monday’s draw against Slimbridge by naming a strong starting XI again with new recruits Tom Knowles, Ben Tozer and Sean Long handed first starts.

Kyle McAllister was first to be denied forcing the Melksham ‘keeper into a low save from point blank range after 15 minutes before Teddy Jenks flicked a header just over moments later.

Rovers broke the deadlock on 29 minutes when Long got on the end of Tozer’s long ball before cutting a cross back to Omotoye who confidently found the bottom corner.

Omotoye almost found the net again minutes later when he met a McAllister cross but could only divert his header past the post.

On the stroke of half time, he did double his tally when Emmanuel Osadebe sent a floated ball over the top for Omotoye to pick up and fire across goal into the bottom corner.

The second half saw few chances with Rovers coming closest to finding a third on 52 minutes when Christian Doidge’s acrobatic overhead kick flew just past the post.

Rovers are next in action on Saturday July 27th when Cotterill’s side travel to Royal Wootton Bassett Town for our final pre-season fixture.