The Skrill Premier

Forest Green Rovers 4

Salisbury City 0

VETERAN marksman Lee Hughes was among four individual scorers who left Salisbury City victims of a Forest Green Rovers blowout as they sunk on their travels for the 12th time out of 18 outings in Skrill Premier.

Their abysmal away form is now standing in City’s play-off way - winning just four games and two draws – with midweek heartbreak arriving at The New Lawn after two goals in three minutes at the end of the first half started a self-destructive trail.

But before tasting more away harm, they fared well in the opening proceeds and seemed to tackle their problem of conceding straight from kick-off head-on.

Their unchanged side probed Green’s defence and Kevin Amankwaah crept in at the far post to steer home Elliott Frear’s cross but a crystal-clear connection wasn’t made.

Down the other end, Eddie Oshodi found a familiar position on goal to Amankwaah and his bullet header was flapped away by an alert Will Puddy.

Angus MacDonald tried his luck from his own half, disguised as a cross, which nearly caught Sam Russell out but he made a quick recovery to divert the danger.

A goalless first half, like at home last Saturday, was suiting the visitors’ fine and they were still managing to withhold the pressure of the league’s hottest striker, and England C man, James Norwood.

But Aaron Racine’s driven strike in the 38th minute put City on a slippery slope and they were stumbling after Jared Hodgkiss – getting his second in the space of four days – doubled their cushion three minutes later.

A drastic second half was needed in Nailsworth but those hopes were put to bed ten minutes into the restart when Hughes used his nous to slide home a predictable third.

Ricky Wellard, Jamie White and Brian Dutton were all lumped forward for the travellers but they couldn’t find a consolation for their 85 supporters.

Instead, Yan Klukowski made it four, and eight in total for Green against Salisbury this season, in injury time.

Rovers are now three points behind City but have two games extra than them.

Salisbury: Puddy, Amakwaah, MacDonald, Wilson (c), Clarke, R.Sinclair, Kamdjo (Wellard, 50), S.Sinclair, Fitchett, Frear (Dutton, 79), McPhee (White, 60).

Subs not used: Bittner, Brett.

Attendance: 918 (Vis: 85).

Referee: Justin Amey.