Forest Green scored four first-half goals to go top of the Blue Square Bet Premier with victory over Ebbsfleet.

The game burst into life when Phil Walsh gave the visitors a 12th-minute lead with a 30-yard screamer.

Yan Klukowski met Matty Taylor's cross at the back post to level, before Preston Edwards allowed Ben Wright's 25-yard shot squirm into the net.

Tayor's back-post header made it 3-1 and Eddie Oshodi bundled in the fourth before half-time.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Forest Green Rovers manager Dave Hockaday told BBC Gloucestershire:

"Every time we attacked in the first half we looked dangerous. Four goals possibly didn't do us justice.

"It's good that we're sharing the load with goals. Teams can't just say 'we're going to stop Reece Styche or Matt Taylor'.

"It's early days but we'd rather be top of the table than we would bottom.

"The hardest thing isn't getting there, it's staying there."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Forest Green Rovers

  • 23 Russell
  • 05 Turley
  • 15 Oshodi
  • 16 Asafu-Adjaye
  • 21 Racine
  • 08 Klukowski
  • 11 Forbes
  • 12 Collins (Bangura - 62' )
  • 14 Taylor
  • 18 Wright (Koroma - 77' )
  • 20 Norwood (Styche - 86' )

Substitutes

  • 04 Bangura
  • 19 Rowe
  • 07 Koroma
  • 09 Styche
  • 17 Marsh

Ebbsfleet United

  • 01 Edwards
  • 04 Ada (Bellamy - 55' )
  • 06 Lorraine
  • 02 Stone
  • 11 Phipp Booked
  • 14 Howe
  • 15 Barrett
  • 18 Azeez (Marum - 55' )
  • 05 Walsh
  • 09 Elder
  • 10 Ashikodi Booked (Greenhalgh - 70' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Menz
  • 03 Blake
  • 16 Bellamy
  • 17 Greenhalgh
  • 07 Marum
Ref: Swabey
Att: 914

Match Stats

Shots

12 7

On target

5 5

Corners

7 4

Fouls

8 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:47 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +4:22

Short corner worked by Omar Koroma.

90:00 +0:29

Keiron Forbes fouled by Nathan Elder, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sam Russell.

89:38

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alhassan Bangura by Nathan Elder. Direct free kick taken by Alhassan Bangura.

85:19 Substitution

Substitution James Norwood leaves the field to be replaced by Reece Styche.

82:22

James Norwood produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.

81:04

Corner taken right-footed by James Norwood, Paul Lorraine manages to make a clearance.

79:35

Omar Koroma challenges Liam Bellamy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Preston Edwards takes the direct free kick.

78:56

Liam Bellamy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alhassan Bangura. Free kick taken by Sam Russell.

77:20

Shot by Ben Greenhalgh from a long way out goes over the net.

76:39 Substitution

Substitution Ben Wright goes off and Omar Koroma comes on.

70:45

Effort from the edge of the area by James Norwood goes wide of the right-hand upright.

69:19

Ben Greenhalgh restarts play with the free kick.

69:19 Substitution

Substitution Ben Greenhalgh is brought on as a substitute for Moses Ashikodi.

69:19

Foul by Eddie Oshodi on Tom Phipp, free kick awarded.

67:43

Keiron Forbes has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.

66:03

The offside flag is raised against Matty Taylor. Phil Walsh restarts play with the free kick.

62:16

Outswinging corner taken by Tom Phipp from the right by-line, Nathan Elder takes a shot.

61:42 Substitution

Substitution Jamie Collins goes off and Alhassan Bangura comes on.

60:44

James Norwood takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

60:05

Tom Phipp challenges Jamie Collins unfairly and gives away a free kick.

60:02

Ben Wright takes the free kick.

60:02 Booking

Booking The referee shows Tom Phipp a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

58:05

Corner taken right-footed by Ben Wright to the near post, Paul Lorraine makes a clearance. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Ben Wright.

57:24

Corner from the right by-line taken by Ben Wright, Craig Stone makes a clearance.

57:02

Yan Klukowski gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Neil Barrett. Phil Walsh takes the free kick.

56:07

Eddie Oshodi fouled by Nathan Elder, the ref awards a free kick. Sam Russell restarts play with the free kick.

53:34

Free kick taken by Sam Russell.

53:34 Substitution

Substitution Liam Enver-Marum joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lanre Azeez.

53:34 Substitution

Substitution Liam Bellamy comes on in place of Patrick Ada.

53:34

Foul by Moses Ashikodi on Eddie Oshodi, free kick awarded.

51:18

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Elder on Eddie Oshodi. Sam Russell takes the free kick.

50:19

Nathan Elder takes a shot. Sam Russell makes a save. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Tom Phipp from the right by-line, clearance made by Eddie Oshodi.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +1:16 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

41:14

Corner taken by Tom Phipp from the left by-line, clearance made by Jamie Collins.

40:07

The assist for the goal came from Ben Wright.

40:07 Goal scored

Goal - Eddie Oshodi - Forest Grn 4 - 1 Ebbsfleet Eddie Oshodi grabs a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Forest Green 4-1 Ebbsfleet United.

38:46

Phil Walsh challenges Matty Taylor unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Ben Wright from right wing, clearance made by Moses Ashikodi. Corner taken right-footed by Ben Wright from the left by-line,

32:18

Aarran Racine gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Lorraine. Preston Edwards takes the free kick.

31:38

Moses Ashikodi takes a shot. Save by Sam Russell.

30:55

Aarran Racine gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Moses Ashikodi. Neil Barrett takes the direct free kick.

29:53

Eddie Oshodi provided the assist for the goal.

29:53 Goal scored

Goal - Matty Taylor - Forest Grn 3 - 1 Ebbsfleet Matty Taylor grabs a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Forest Green 3-1 Ebbsfleet United.

28:31

Effort from long distance by James Norwood goes wide of the left-hand upright.

26:00 Goal scored

Goal - Ben Wright - Forest Grn 2 - 1 Ebbsfleet Ben Wright grabs a goal. Forest Green 2-1 Ebbsfleet United.

26:00

James Norwood provided the assist for the goal.

26:00 Goal scored

Goal - Yan Klukowski - Forest Grn 2 - 1 Ebbsfleet Yan Klukowski scores a goal. Forest Green 2-1 Ebbsfleet United.

24:29

Free kick crossed right-footed by Tom Phipp from right wing, save by Sam Russell.

24:29 Booking

Booking Moses Ashikodi receives a yellow card.

24:24

Foul by Ed Asafu-Adjaye on Moses Ashikodi, free kick awarded.

22:32

Eddie Oshodi concedes a free kick for a foul on Nathan Elder. Tom Phipp has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.

21:13

The assistant referee flags for offside against Jamie Turley. Free kick taken by Preston Edwards.

19:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ben Wright by Neil Barrett. Ben Wright takes the direct free kick.

17:22

Matty Taylor provided the assist for the goal.

17:22 Goal scored

Goal - Yan Klukowski - Forest Grn 1 - 1 Ebbsfleet Yan Klukowski finds the net with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. Forest Green 1-1 Ebbsfleet United.

16:36

Shot from outside the area by Yan Klukowski misses to the left of the target.

14:56

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James Norwood by Craig Stone. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ben Wright from left wing, Paul Lorraine manages to make a clearance.

13:58

Corner taken right-footed by Ben Wright, Jamie Collins takes a shot. Save by Preston Edwards.

11:40

The assist for the goal came from Tom Phipp.

11:40 Goal scored

Goal - Phil Walsh - Forest Grn 0 - 1 Ebbsfleet Phil Walsh finds the back of the net with a goal from a long way out to the top left corner of the goal. Forest Green 0-1 Ebbsfleet United.

10:39

Jamie Collins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nathan Elder. Tom Phipp has an effort direct from the free kick.

10:11

Handball decision goes against Ben Wright. Craig Stone takes the free kick.

9:18

Jamie Collins fouled by Tom Phipp, the ref awards a free kick. Sam Russell takes the free kick.

8:49

The referee penalises James Norwood for handball. Direct free kick taken by Phil Walsh.

5:21

Shot from long range by Matty Taylor goes wide of the left-hand post.

4:22

Foul by Tom Phipp on Sam Russell, free kick awarded. Sam Russell takes the direct free kick.

3:54

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Tom Phipp from the right by-line.

2:09

Nathan Elder concedes a free kick for a foul on Eddie Oshodi. Aarran Racine takes the free kick.

0:00

The match begins.

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