Match Day Thread Pre-season games

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Thanks for posting the updates CJ, a nice start to pre season and a good stretch in the sun. Was good to see two teams worth of players given a run out - goes to show we have strength in depth in most areas - there have been times in the past when we've struggled to field 11 players, let alone 22! Shame for Manor Farm though, normally when fans were allowed, this game would have generated them some much needed revenue for them, , but not this season sadly.

 

I had to pop out so I couldn't add the 2nd half updates. I think Manor Farm may have done alright revenue wise. They were charging £4.99 on their site to be able to watch a live stream of the game and I reckon a fair few took that option up to get their first Rovers fix for a few months.

 

I know we had a different team for the 2nd half but I can't seem to find it on Rovers twitter feed.

 

Game ended 4-0 to Rovers. Here is BG's post match comments....

 

First-half goals from Jonson Clarke-Harris and a brace from Zain Walker set Rovers to an energetic start in a useful pre-season outing at The Creek.

Lucas Tomlinson added to the goal tally for Rovers in the second half, as Rovers marked the first milestone of pre-season with a comprehensive victory.

The first friendly of the pre-season schedule gave Manager Ben Garner the chance to see the summer signings in their first outings in the blue and white quarters, with five weeks to go until the scheduled start of the Sky Bet League One season.

For the first half, new additions Sam Nicholson and Max Ehmer were included in a starting XI that featured Anssi Jaakkola, Alfie Kilgour, Michael Kelly, Ed Upson, Jonson Clarke-Harris and Josh Hare. There were also chances to impress for youngsters Zain Walker and Tom Mehew in the opening 45 minutes.

Rovers started bright and looked to work possession inside the hosts half from the first whistle.

The positive play quickly created the games first chance, as a low set-piece from Sam Nicholson bounced across the congested goal mouth and had to be rushed clear at the far-post.

Rovers didn't have to wait long for another chance to present itself, as the combination of Zain Walker and Clarke-Harris cut a path through the Manor Farm backline. It was the Rovers number 9 that was set through one-on-one with the 'keeper, as JCH calmly rounded Ben John in the host's goal and slotted home the close-range finish.

Walker was lively throughout the first-half and got a reward for his work on the stroke of the 20-minute mark, as a sharp turn from the youngster opened up room for a shot on the edge of the area that he directed into the bottom corner.

In the heat at the Creek, Rovers controlled possession for the majority of the first half's proceedings and limited the home side to a single chance on goal, as Stuart Tovey ballooned a header off target.

As the closing stages of the half played out, Walker again found space to latch onto a through-ball from Tom Mehew, as the youngster grabbed his second goal with a measured finish over the advancing keeper to round off a stirring display.

Rovers started the second half with an entirely different starting XI, as Jack Baldwin was drafted into a defence that included Cian Harries and Mark Little, with Jonah Ayunga tasked with leading the Rovers attack.

The Gas started the second half in the same trend as the first half, with positive attacking play creating a series of useful chances.

Both Lucas Tomlinson and Josh Barrett saw efforts on goal drift narrowly wide, as a speculative lobbed effort from Josh Barrett caught everyone by surprise, with the chance bouncing back off the crossbar.

As the half progressed, work down both wings proved to be a useful avenue for Rovers to create openings, as both Alex Rodman and Luke Leahy were able to glance deliveries into the penalty area towards the direction of Jonah Ayunga. It was last-ditch defending by the home side that denied the forward a clear-cut opening on goal, but the steady flow of chances was a promising sign.

The quantity of the chances paved the way for Rovers' fourth goal of the game, which came as the hour mark passed. It was a looped cross to the far-post that started the move, as Alex Rodman worked space to cushion the high delivery into the feet of Lucas Tomlinson, who made no mistake in finding the target with a low volley that darted passed the 'keeper.

Rovers managed the closing stages with little threat on van Stappershoef's goal and had a late chance to make it a five-goal margin as Jonah Ayunga ran through on goal by saw his effort blocked by the swarm of covering defenders.

Bristol Rovers 1st half: Anssi Jaakkola (G), Alfie Kilgour, Max Ehmer, Michael Kelly, Josh Hare, Ed Upson, Tom Mehew, Sam Nicholson, James Daly, Zain Walker, Jonson Clarke-Harris.

2nd half: Jordi Van Stappershoef (G), Mark Little, Cian Harries, Jack Baldwin, Alex Rodman, Luke Leahy, Josh Grant, Cameron Hargreaves, Josh Barrett, Lucas Tomlinson, Jonah Ayunga

 

Vs Exeter...

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Trialist was Adam May.

 

The Gas ran out 2-1 winners in their second match of pre-season...

Rovers started brightly and were rewarded with an early goal in the first attack of the game.

It was a cross from the right that caused the damage, as a tempting delivery from Alex Rodman stretched across the area, with Cam Hargreaves nodding on a close-range header. The delivery continued through the congested area, where a reaction finish from Jayden Mitchell-Lawson steered the ball home.

The first-half had a lively tempo, with Rovers looking to work the ball forward with a disciplined approach to attacking play.

Anssi Jaakkola's relatively quiet first-half was disrupted as Jake Caprice advanced down the right and pulled back a cross into the area that was met by Ryan Bowman, who forced the Rovers 'keeper into a save down low with a forceful header.

In the closing stages of the half, Rovers had scope to extend their lead further, as once again Rodman found space down the right to chip temping cross to the far post that was very nearly headed home by Mitchell-Lawson.

At the break, Rovers stuck with the majority of the same personnel that started the first-half, with just two changes - as Jayden Mitchell-Lawson and Zain Westbrooke made way for Sam Nicholson and a trialist.

Rovers started the second half brightly and doubled their advantage in the first few minutes after the break. It was Cameron Hargreaves that grabbed the Gas' second goal, with the youngster darting inside the area from out wide and stroking a measured finished beyond the Exeter 'keeper.

The two-goal advantage for Rovers was short-lived as the visitors were able to take advantage of deflected defensive header that bounced back off one his teammates and into the path of Tom Parkes, who darted a finish past Jaakkola to get Exeter City on the score sheet.

Rovers made a host of changes on the hour mark, helping spread the playing time amongst the squad.

With a slim lead, Rovers still housed much of the attacking threat in the encounter.

Substitute James Daly tested the Exeter 'keeper with a powerful shot from the edge of the area that travelled through a number of bodies before reaching the target.

Moments later, the Gas were in again as the newly-introduced Walker neatly picked out Sam Nicholson on the left who struck from the angle towards the near post, seeing the 'keeper save well.

Late on, Van Stappershoef kept his side in the lead through a smart save, reacting well to spread himself in front of a bouncing Exeter effort, struck from the edge of the area.

The Gas saw the final few minutes out with no real incident, and claimed a second win of pre-season!

Rovers Line-Up: Anssi Jaakkola (61' van Stappershoef), Mark Little (61' Josh Hare), Max Ehmer (61' Alife Kilgour), Cian Harries (61' Jack Baldwin), Alex Rodman (61' James Daly), Luke Leahy (61' Zain Walker), Josh Grant (61' Ed Upson), Zain Westbrooke (45' Trialist), Cameron Hargreaves (61' Mike Kelly), Jayden Mitchell-Lawson (45' Sam Nicholson), Jonson Clarke-Harris (61' Harry Warwick).