RYAN CLARKE may have taken a bashing on the Forest Green Rovers fans' forum last week, but the much maligned keeper answered his critics in emphatic fashion by playing a crucial role in Rovers' 5-1 dismantling of Scarborough.

Forest Green boss Gary Owers had ordered a tough week of training but his demanding methods clearly worked with Rovers turning in a five-star performance.

Despite the scoreline, Clarke produced three outstanding first half saves to lay the platform for such a convincing victory.

"The gaffer (Gary Owers) certainly got the best out of us," said a delighted Clarke, who is on a season long-loan from Bristol Rovers.

"I was pleased with my own personal performance-but a little disappointed with my kicking."

However, Clarke's shot-stopping was certainly of the highest order, and showed why Lennie Lawrence and Paul Trollope have been keen to recall him to the Memorial Stadium.

It took only two minutes for Rovers to edge ahead.

Damon Searle's lofted cross saw Julian Alsop leap above a flat-footed defence to nod beyond Leigh Walker.

Abdou Sall, who enjoyed a smashing game, was next to get in the mix- the powerful defender nodding in from a Johnnie Hayes corner for his first goal for Rovers after five minutes.

Meanwhile, Guy Madjo had a goal ruled out on 12 minutes with the linesman adjudging Alsop to have fouled Paul Foot.

However, the perfect start came under threat, but Clarke did well to stop Neil Redfearn's swerving free-kick. He did even better when he showed speed of thought to block Richard Kell, who nipped in behind the otherwise outstanding Paul Wanless, forming a redoubtable new-look defensive rock with Sall.

Former Forest Green defender Denny Ingram found his way into the book after a heavy challenge on Alsop, which ultimately forced the former Cheltenham Town striker to hobble off seven minutes before the break.

Hayes, in his final game before returning to Premiership-bound Reading, was proving a massive irritation to Scarborough.

His cross allowed Mark Beesley to smash a first-time strike which Walker palmed over. Substitute Zema Abbey then released Madjo who turned Ingram, only to be upended by Lee Fowler somewhat dangerously in the box.

Beesley and home debutant Michael Brough were asserting a foothold in their new central midfield partnership with Brough looking strong in the tackle and Beesley full of clever thought.

Crucially, Wanless made it three from the spot. Hayes was upended allowing Wanless to coolly slot home his tenth goal of the season on the cusp of the interval. However, a flying Clarke tip-over preserved the 3-0 deficit.

Rovers smelled further goals. Brough broke up an attack and released Madjo, Alex Meechan saw his cross superbly turned away by Atkinson with Hayes ready to pounce.

The goal of the game was reserved for 18-year-old Hayes. Picking the ball up in a central position he pushed the ball from his left-foot to right to crash in a stinging 22 yard strike that nestled into Walker's bottom corner.

Wanless' unfortunate yellow for a legitimate challenge on Redfearn angered player and fans alike.

With minutes left a suspiciously offside looking Michael Coulson was incredibly foiled twice by Clarke who blocked his first point-blank strike then superbly turning the rebound onto the post, only for David McNiven to back heel the loose ball in.

At the death, Rovers notched their second five-goal haul in three home games when Brough found Abbey who slid in substitute Bruno Teixeira to fire a strike via Walker's fingers and the inside of the post.