Forest Green Rovers ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over West Bromwich Albion Under 21s in the EFL Trophy.

Chris Stokes, Matty Stevens and Jake Young were amongst the goals as Rovers got three points on the board in the group stage.

Mark Cooper made ten changes to the side that drew at home to Walsall on Saturday, with the notable inclusion of Academy starlet Jack Carter.

At just 15 years and 205 days old, Carter goes down as the youngest player to represent FGR in EFL competition.

After a quiet start to proceedings, the game exploded into action after a quarter of an hour.

Stokes, sporting the armband in the middle of a back three, opened the scoring for the hosts after 17 minutes as he powered into the area to nod home Jack Evans’ corner.

Just two minutes later, the hosts saw their lead doubled from another corner, as Stevens bundled over the line after a goal-mouth scramble.

Josh March could have added a third on his return to the side following a thigh injury, but saw his cross loop over the keeper and bounce off to the top of the crossbar.

It didn’t take long for Rovers to get their third though, as Jake Young opened his account in green.

The 19-year-old saw space to run into, and with the Baggies defence backing off, he unleashed a rocket into the side netting from 25 yards.

The visitors could well have reduced the deficit before the break, but saw a fantastic chance go begging at the back post.

 It took until the 69th minute for West Brom to have another clear sight of goal, Toby King firing a curling effort against the post from outside the area.

March could well have added a fourth as time wore on, but saw his half volley at the back post well saved.

Forest Green XI: Thomas, Bernard, Stokes (c), Stevens, Allen, Evans, Young (Bunker 79’), Whitehouse, Richardson, March (Bell 83’), Carter (Covil 62’)

Unused subs: McGee, McCoulsky, Godwin-Malife