Five-star Forest Green off bottom after crushing 10-man Colchester

Forest Green moved off the bottom of the League Two table with a 5-0 demolition of 10-man Colchester.

Goals from Callum Morton, Kyle McAllister, Matty Taylor and Matty Stevens (two) made the U’s pay after they had Jay Mingi sent off early in the second half.

Dom Bernard was adjudged to have back-passed to Rovers goalkeeper James Belshaw but Cameron McGeehan’s drive was blocked on the goal line.

But Tyrese Omotoye’s curling effort was parried by U’s shot-stopper Tom Smith into the path of the oncoming Morton, who hammered home from six yards four minutes before the break.

Visiting midfielder Mingi was then sent off for a second bookable offence just two minutes into the second half.

Forest Green doubled their lead after 65 minutes when McAllister received a pass from Omotoye and smashed a left-footed effort into the far corner of Smith’s goal.

A third arrived 12 minutes later as substitute Taylor drilled past Smith despite his best efforts to save.

Stevens (79) made it four by slotting home Sean Robertson’s low cross and also added a fifth in stoppage time when he controlled and finished Harvey Bunker’s lofted pass to complete the rout.