Last home Central league fixture for this season takes place at he Lawns K O 1pm. Our opponents are AFC Bournemouth. Admission is normally free so if you are available come along and see some of our up and coming stars of tomorrow as well as some of the 1st team squad keeping up match fitness
A young Rovers side was defeated 0-3 by AFC Bournemouth at the Lawns this afternoon. Bristol Rovers 0-3 AFC Bournemouth Rovers fielded a squad that combined a number of academy prospects with trialists for the fixture, with Ryan Broom the only player from the first-team setup to feature. The deadlock at the Lawns was broken just twenty minutes into the encounter as Sam Surridge managed to lose his marker in the box and was able to steer his header into the net from close-range. Rovers created a good chance to respond almost immediately after conceding the opening goal, as James Spruce took advantage of space outside the area to force an effort on goal, but the youngster's right-footed shot was straight at the Bournemouth 'keeper. Following the restart, Ryan Broom had the best chance of the game for the home side, as the winger directed a driven free-kick on goal that had to be turned around the post. Broom's opportunity signalled the start of a good spell for Rovers, which saw the home side convert possession into a number of chances on goal. Cameron Hargreaves negotiated a good corner from the right-hand side that wasn't picked up by the AFC Bournemouth defence, with Ryan Broom making a late charge into the box but meeting the ball off-balance the winger couldn't deflect his header on target. AFC Bournemouth managed to extend their lead fifteen minutes into the second half, as an inviting cross from the right by Jordan Green was headed into the net by Sam Surridge for his second goal of the afternoon. The visitors were awarded a penalty as Jordan Green was tripped inside the box on the hour mark. Surridge was tasked with taking the penalty and he calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to complete his hat-trick. There was a late chance for Lewis Ellington to reduce the deficit, as the substitute timed his run to latch onto to a long-ball forward, but the youngster opted for a powerful finish that rose sharply over the crossbar. AFC Bournemouth saw out the closing minutes to record the victory, in what was the final fixture for Rovers in this season's Central League calendar.
Beaten by a very good Bournemouth side today, Ryan Broom the only senior player on the pitch. trialist in goal released by Southampton if the information I was given is correct and both F / Bs were trialists L / B Josh ?? apparently from Blackburn and the R / B with a Dutch sounding name had tidy games. the front 2 worked hard without much joy as did Luke Russe wide on the left. There were others on trial but not sure who they were. Talking to one of the Bournemouth people after and saying how good I thought his team had played and mentioned to him that we had Joe Partington with us now and he said he was at Bournemouth when Joe was a player and coached him at Eastleigh, he also new DC from his Salisbury days when he was there, so I wonder if that was how he came to join us
