Forest Green vs Cardiff

Cardiff needed only eight minutes to carve open the Forest Green defence. A slick team move from back to front ended with Ronan Kpakio and Isaak Davies combining in a one-two, and the Wales international slotted home the finish.

Seven minutes later, Salech capitalised on a poor defensive pass from the hosts. His initial effort was saved, but Chris Willock was on hand to tap into an empty net for 2-0.

Willock doubled his tally in the 22nd minute with a moment of real quality, cutting in from the left flank and unleashing a low, powerful drive into the far corner.

Davies turned provider for the fourth goal, teeing up Yousef Salech to finish clinically in the 24th minute. Cardiff were 4-0 up inside the first quarter of the game.

Willock completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 36th minute after a handball in the Forest Green box. He sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 5-0.

Barry-Murphy made wholesale changes at the break, withdrawing Willock, Davies and others. The second half was a more subdued affair, though Eli King made a welcome return from a long-term ACL injury — his first appearance since August 2025 — entering the fray in the 64th minute.

Forest Green pulled one back in the 68th minute when Liverpool loanee Kyle Kelly saw his effort take a deflection and loop past Cardiff substitute goalkeeper Billy Tyrer. Callum Robinson went close to restoring Cardiff's five-goal cushion with a well-struck free-kick, but Fiachra Pagel produced a fine save.

Sixteen-year-old Noah Anyadike made his senior debut for Cardiff, replacing David Turnbull in the 79th minute.

The game was effectively over inside 15 minutes. Davies' eighth-minute opener settled any early nerves, but Willock's second goal — a superb solo strike from the left — confirmed Cardiff's superiority. Forest Green simply could not cope with the gulf in quality, and the 4-0 lead inside 24 minutes made the second half a formality.

• Chris Willock (Cardiff City) — Hat-trick hero. A poacher's tap-in, a superb solo strike from distance, and a composed penalty. Withdrawn at half-time having already done the damage. Player of the match.
• Isaak Davies (Cardiff City) — One goal and one assist inside the first 24 minutes. Continues an impressive pre-season goalscoring run. A constant threat cutting in from either flank.
• Yousef Salech (Cardiff City) — Took his goal clinically after Davies' pass. His pressing forced the defensive error that led to Willock's first goal.
• Kyle Kelly (Forest Green Rovers) — The Liverpool loanee scored a well-taken deflected goal and was one of the few bright spots for Forest Green in the second half.

Cardiff's five first-half goals from 36 minutes reflect a 40-minute spell of complete dominance. The fact that neither side scored a goal in open play after the break — Kelly's strike took a heavy deflection, and Cardiff's best chance came from a free-kick — points to the vast number of substitutions disrupting any rhythm. The 5-0 half-time scoreline, however, was a fair reflection of the gap between a Championship side nearing full fitness and a National League outfit still building their sharpness.

For Cardiff City, this was their penultimate pre-season fixture. They face Serie A giants AS Roma at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, 1 August (15:00 BST) before opening their competitive season with a Carabao Cup first-round tie at home to Swindon Town on Saturday, 8 August (15:00 BST). Their Championship campaign begins with a Monday night fixture against Wrexham on 17 August (20:00 BST).

Forest Green Rovers continue their pre-season preparations under Robbie Savage as they build towards the 2026-27 National League season. The scoreline underlines the gulf in divisions — Cardiff play two tiers higher — but the second-half display offered some encouragement.

A ruthlessly efficient first-half performance from Cardiff against overmatched opposition. Willock's hat-trick was the headline, but the collective intensity of Barry-Murphy's side in the opening 40 minutes was the real story. Forest Green can take heart from a more competitive second half, but the 5-0 deficit at the break was a stark reminder of the step up in quality.