Barnsley eased to a comfortable victory in Sky Bet League One this afternoon.

An Adam Phillips brace and goals for Slobodan Tedic, James Norwood and Devante Cole helped Michael Duff's side to a big win that confirmed the relegation of Forest Green Rovers.

It took the Reds just eight minutes to break the deadlock in Nailsworth. After initial good work to win the set play, Serbian forward Tedic was on-hand to nod in the opening goal from Luca Connell's devilish inswinging corner. 

Our hosts nearly found an immediate response when on-loan midfielder Charlie Savage tried his luck from range, but Harry Isted flung himself to his right to turn the ball behind for a corner kick.

The home side were playing some nice football in the opening quarter of the game and Reds skipper, Mads Andersen was booked for a tangle in midfield with Udoka Godwin-Malife as they searched for the leveller.

Next to thwart Rovers was Jordan Williams who did tremendously well to get back and put in a block challenge just as Savage pulled the trigger after a promising raid down the right-hand side.

But the task doubled in difficulty for Green when a Connell free-kick from the left was only headed to the edge of the box where Phillips was stationed, and the trusty midfielder rocketed a shot into the net via a deflection. 

It was 3-0 around 10 minutes before the break as another Connell corner kick was put away, this time by former Forest Green striker Norwood, with a cute near post finish allowing him to celebrate against his old club.

HALF-TIME: Forest Green 0-3 Barnsley

The Reds added a fourth goal early in the second period when after 13 months of waiting, they were awarded a league penalty. Referee, Craig Hicks pointed to the spot having seen Dylan McGeouch upend a rampaging run by Bobby Thomas.

Up stepped Phillips and lo and behold, the spot kick was saved, but FGR 'keeper Ross Doohan couldn't hold the shot and Phillips tucked home the rebound for his second of the game and his 11th of a productive debut season.

Duff made four changes just after the hour-mark, with Jon Russell, Josh Benson, Luke Thomas and Cole introduced. These changes disrupted the flow of the game slightly, with Forest Green able to reduce the arrears soon after.

After good play out wide, the ball was knocked to the edge of the Reds box and substitute Reece Brown bent an effort first time, into the bottom right-hand corner of Isted's goal.

There was time for a fifth Barnsley goal and it came after fine work down the right flank with Williams sending over a teasing delivery that wasn't dealt with by the hosts and Cole was there to poke home the ball for his 16th goal of the season.

It could have been six when Luke Thomas surged towards the box before unleashing a wicked effort that missed by inches, but a fine performance and another three points were the order of the day for Duff's side, in front of another sellout away crowd.

FULL-TIME: Forest Green 1-5 Barnsley

Isted, Williams, B.Thomas, Andersen, Kitching, Larkeche (Cundy), Phillips (J.Benson), Connell (Russell), Kane (L.Thomas), Norwood (Cole), Tedic.

Unused: Collins, Watters.