Forest Green Rovers suffered a 2-1 defeat in their final pre-season fixture against AFC Totton at the Snows Stadium.

Following Wednesday’s emphatic 8-0 win over Shortwood United, Steve Cotterill made six changes for our final pre-season outing including a first look at goalkeeper, Jed Ward.

Ward was called into action just five minutes in getting down to the bottom corner to deny a Tony Lee driven effort.

Straight down the other end, Kyle McAllister drifted into the area before fizzing a dangerous effort just past the post.

Adam May went close for Rovers on the half hour mark when he wrapped an effort from 18-yards towards the top corner, but it was beaten away by the Totton goalkeeper.

Despite Rovers chances, it was Totton who took the lead on 43 minutes when Scott Rendall turned home a low cross from close range.

Rovers almost went into the break level when Christian Doidge’s headed effort re-bounded back off the post before Tom Knowles’ follow up was saved.

Totton doubled their lead after the break when Joe Oastler fired home from a corner on 49 minutes.

Liam Sercombe got one back for Rovers on 64 minutes meeting a Jamie Robson cross to drill home, but it wasn’t enough as Rovers suffered their first defeat of pre-season.

Attention for Cotterill and his side now turns to the Vanarama National League as Rovers get their campaign underway traveling to Aldershot Town on Saturday August 10th.

Starting XI - Ward (GK), Robson, Tozer, Inniss (Bunker 68’), Long, McCann (Osadebe 45’), May (Maddox 68’), Sercombe (Jenks 68’), McAllister (Omotoye 74’), Knowles (Lavinier 74’), Doidge

Unused Subs- Searle (GK)