Jonathan Gould was all smiles as Forest Green Rovers swept aside Chesham United 5-0 to book an FA Cup first-round trip to Luton Town.

Five different goalscorers helped Rovers deliver an emphatic response, with Bryan Ifeanyi stunning strike after just nine seconds setting the tone for a night of goals.

It was the first victory for interim coaching trio Gould, Yan Klukowski and Josh Bowen, and one that could provide a timely lift as Rovers look to get their league campaign back on track with a trip to Barrow this weekend.

“I think it’s probably a tonic for us,” Gould told BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Billy Hunt. “I think we’ve felt in the last three or four games we’ve had chances that we could have taken. I think tonight we took them.”

Rovers made their intentions clear from the outset, with Gould revealing the team had been instructed to make their mark during the opening 10 to 15 minutes.

The early breakthrough was followed by goals from D’Mani Mellor, Freddy Sass, Kyle Kelly and Tate Campbell as Rovers spread the scoring across the side.

“It’s brilliant,” Gould said. “Freddy Sass strolled in and smash one off the underside of the bar. Kyle Kelly comes on and within a minute he’s scored, and then Tate Campbell, we were telling Tate just to hold the back line, not to be too adventurous, and he gets one as well.”

The clean sheet was just as satisfying for Gould, a former Celtic goalkeeper, with Kelly clearing off the line and Luke McNicholas making an important save late on.

“There was a celebration at the end where Kelly cleared one off the line, and that was important to us as a group of players for that clean sheet for Luke,” Gould said.

“Having been an ex-goalkeeper, you do pride yourselves on clean sheets.”

The result sends Rovers to Kenilworth Road for a first-round tie against League One Luton, offering a chance to test themselves against opposition with recent Premier League pedigree.

Gould welcomed the prospect but insisted there is plenty of work to do before the cup tie, with a demanding league schedule coming first.

Rovers face Barrow away before further games against Eastleigh and Harrogate, with three major tests packed into 10 days.

“Recovery is just going to be just as important as what we do on the training field,” Gould said.

The interim boss was delighted to get the coaching trio’s first win under their belts but stressed that league results remain the ultimate measure of progress.

“We want to go and start winning league games,” he said. “That’s what ultimately the club’s judged on over a season.

“But to keep the supporters engaged with the cup runs is also really important.”

Asked whether Rovers could cause an upset at Luton, Gould was unequivocal.

“Yeah, of course. That’s what we’ve got to set the boys up to do, but there’s a lot to go on before that.”

Forest Green: McNicholas, Abrefa, Mabete, McIntyre (Kircough 53’), Sass (Kengi 64’), Clarke (Kelly 53’), Campbell, McAllister (C) (Gbadehan 58’), Haughton, Mellor (Marquez 71’), Ifeanyi

Subs not used: Ross, Etaluku

Chesham United – Goode, Lacey, Young, Adebiyi (C) (Brown 83’), Adewunmi (Williams 46’), Andrews (Eze 46’), St Clair Burton, Lench, Babos (Bennetts 46’), Lafleur, Oliyide

Subs not used: Roberts, Weiss, Rasulu

Attendance: 529 (64 away)