Three outstanding goals underpinned Forest Green’s position at the top of League Two after a 3-1 victory over Salford on Saturday, with Rovers boss Rob Edwards now being tipped for bigger things.

Nicky Cadden’s stunning free-kick cancelled out Brandon Asante’s first-half opener before Kane Wilson’s fine individual strike and substitute Jack Aitchison’s neat finish won it for the table-toppers.

A breathless first half saw Rovers’ Ebou Adams plant a second-minute free header wide from an exquisite Wilson cross. Baily Cargill’s audacious lob from just inside the Salford half almost caught out the retreating Connor Ripley as Rovers turned up the heat.

However, it was Salford who took the lead on 16 minutes. Against the run of play, Asante brought the ball down in the box to switch his feet and rifle the ball beyond Luke McGee.

Rovers responded – Matty Stevens induced a fine parry from Ripley from Wilson’s cross. On the cusp of the break, Cadden bent a free-kick over the wall and into Ripley’s top corner for his fifth goal of the season.

A tight second-half was punctuated by a sumptuous Wilson strike – picking the ball up just inside the Salford half he embarked on a buccaneering run to slip his marker and plant a sprawling strike from just inside the box to beat Ripley all ends up with 19 minutes to go.

Aitchison wrapped things up in stoppage-time – driving into the box and planting the ball home from a Jamille Matt assist.

And afterwards Salford boss Gary Bowyer tipped his opposite number Rob Edwards for bigger things.

He said: “Their biggest challenge is keeping hold of the two coaches (Edwards, and Richie Kyle) that are leading Rovers ever so well at the moment – and if they maintain that – and stay where they are – they obviously become an attractive proposition for other clubs.”

“We’ve had a tough afternoon, you can see why they’re top of the league.

Meanwhile, a delighted Edwards joked that his backside splinter injury during his pre-match interview in the week had nothing to do with his 90 minutes of prowling in the technical area as he cajoled his table-toppers to a scintillating victory.

He said: “I managed to get that splinter out thank goodness for that – it was a big splinter and it certainly hurt.

“All three goals were outstanding and would grace any pitch at any level in the world and I was delighted for all three of them. Overall, it was a fantastic three points for us.”