Home Results News Table Squad Statistics

Bristol Rovers 3-1 Pilgrims

Coca Cola League

With both sides having the same points total and thus both having a slim chance of making the play-offs, neither side wanted to drop any points. So both sides went for the win from the off - producing great end-to-end entertainment. The first good chance fell to Craig Disley who met Stuart Campbell's corner with a powerful header that went just over the bar. Then play switched to the other end and Julian Joachim should have scored but all he could produce was an air shot. Back down to the other end and Conrad Logan made a superb save to deny Craig Hinton. Another shot by Joachim was then saved by Scott Shearer. The deadlock was broken in the 27th minute. A break down the right by the pacey Junior Agogo ended with a great cross and a good finish by DISLEY who picked his spot from ten yards out. Boston soon resumed their attacks on the Bristol goal. Soon Joachim found himself one-on-one with Shearer but his shot was too close to the keeper allowing him to parry the ball before it was cleared by a Bristol defender. Boston made two substitutions at half time - Peter Till replacing Lawrie Dudfield and Bradley Maylett on for Mark Greaves. The first chance of the second half fell to Bristol after a quickly taken free kick set Agogo free, but the striker's shot was just too high.

Two minutes later James Hunt had a great chance to increase Bristol's lead after being set up by Disley, but he shot into the side netting from close range. The miss proved costly as Boston equalised on the hour. A cross into the box found Maylett who headed back towards JOACHIM who slotted home from six yards out. Boston pressed forward in search of a winner. A mistake by the Bristol defence gave Danny Thomas a good chance but he shot straight at the keeper. Bristol regained the lead in the 73rd minute from the penalty spot after Austin McCann had brought down Lewis Haldane. Richard WALKER had no problems with the spot kick. Bristol got their third goal four minutes later when Junior AGOGO ran through the Boston defence before drilling the ball past Logan. Five minutes from time Shearer made a brilliant save to tip over a shot by Maylett. Time ran out for Boston as Bristol moved closer towards the final play off place. After the match Steve Evans said: "I think we should have been 3-1 up at half-time. I'm hugely disappointed because I think we were much better than them. We were just totally dominant. We've absolutely hammered them".

United team: Conrad Logan, Lee Canoville, Austin McCann, Alan White, Paul Ellender, Chris Holland, Mark Greaves (Bradley Maylett 46), Jamie Clarke, Danny Thomas, Julian Joachim (David Galbraith 88), Lawrie Dudfield (Peter Till 46). Subs not used: Steve Melton, Gary Silk.


Match report copyright © Ken Fox 2006.