Robbie Savage’s new look Forest Green side fell to a 3-0 defeat at home to League Two outfit Walsall.
Goals from Jonny Stuttle and Aaron Pressley saw the Saddlers lead 2-0 at the break before Charlie Lakin’s howitzer wrapped up for Mat Sadler’s side.
Earlier, Savage opted to showcased eight of his new signings – only missing injured Coventry City loanee Isaac Moore.
Sporting the most talked about playing shirts in the country – inspired by a barking tree frog, according to nonconformist chairman Dale Vince, it was Rovers who quickly found their feet. Kyle McAllister’s clipped cross fell to the impressive newbie Laurent Mendy, who induced a block from Myles Roberts.
At the other end, Bournemouth loan star Stuttle saw his howitzer induce a gloved response from the sharp reflexes of Rovers’ new number one Luke McNicholas.
Stuttle found his range on 20 minutes – glancing a header into the bottom corner of McNicholas’s net from Mason Hancock’s cross.
The Saddlers turned the screw on 31 minutes. Abraham Kanu, signed earlier this week, on a season-long loan from Reading, was beaten all-ends-up in the air by the physical prowess of Pressley, who planted his towering header home from Hancock’s pin-point cross.
On the cusp of the break, Mendy, who was pleasing on the eye – pulled the trigger from distance – his sumptuous strike just missing the top of Roberts bar.
After the break, Kanu headed over the bar and sub Adam May skewed over as Rovers made a fist of it against a Walsall side defeated at Wembley in the League Two play-off final.
Rovers huffed and puffed -intricate play saw the energetic Jamie Robson glance wide.
Christian Doidge was denied by Roberts’ parried acrobatics, and Jayden Clarke skewed the free ball high, wide and not very handsome.
With 10 minutes to go, Walsall introduced former Forest Green League Two title winner Jamille Matt and the Saddlers made it 3-0 on 81 minutes – Lakin rippling the net from distance.
Forest Green first half: McNicholas; Pemberton (Long 45 ), Kanu (Moore-Taylor 67), Bunker (Knowles 45), Kengni (Robson 55); Mendy, McCann (May 67), McAllister; Clarke, Bamba (Marquez 71), Mitchell (Doidge 59).
Sub not used: Pagel
Match attendance: 992
Away fans: 195
Referee: Dean Whitehouse
Star Man: Laurent Mendy – midfield lynchpin – looks a real steal from Robbie Savage’s old club Macclesfield.
Next up: In their final pre-season match, Forest Green welcome a Derby County XI on Friday, August 1 – 7PM
