Bristol Rovers

Attendance: 3,853 (1,869)

Rovers returned to Vanarama Conference action with a goalless draw with Woking at Kingfield.

Darrell Clarke was forced into one change to his starting 11 bringing Ollie Clarke in to replace the injured Stuart Sinclair and long-term absentee Steve Mildenhall returned among the substitutes with new signings Adam Dawson and Jermaine Easter were also on the bench

Woking started brightly with former Bristol City player Kevin Betsy attempting to play in loan signing Ross Lafayette but the pass was overhit and dribbled out for a Rovers goal kick.

Moments later Andy Monkhouse found some space down the Rovers left but his cross floated over the head of Jake Gosling, who was arriving at the far post.

Rovers had the first clear cut opportunity of the game as Jake Gosling cut in from the right hand side and delivered a pin-point cross to the head of Matty Taylor who headed wide with the linesman flagging for offside.

Woking’s first effort of the game came just after the half hour mark as Joey Jones tried his luck from distance. The midfielder’s shot took a wicked deflection and looped up into the air but Will Puddy in the Rovers goal was equal to it.

Several minutes later Josh Payne stuck wide following a lovely flowing move from Woking.

Just before the half time whistle Matty Taylor had the ball in the back of the net with the referee’s assistant flagging for offside.

In the second half Woking had a few early half chances as Joey Jones and substitute Giuseppe Sole firing over the top of the crossbar and Matty Taylor again had the ball in the back of the net only to be flagged offside for the second time of the game.

Moments later Rovers supporters got to see Jermaine Easter in a Rovers shirt for the first time as he replaced Nathan Blissett just before the hour mark.

Chances were few and far between for both sides in the second period with Darrell Clarke opting for freshen things up with 15 minutes remaining bringing on Ellis Harrison to replace Matty Taylor.

Rovers pushed for the all important first goal as susbstitutes Ellis Harrison and Jermaine Easter linked up to set up an arriving Lee Mansell who struck a fierce shot goalwards only to see his effort blocked by Josh Payne.

The Cards also tried to break the deadlock bet efforts from substitutes Guiseppe Sole and former Rovers forward Scott Rendell didn't trouble Will Puddy in the Rovers goal.

Up next for Rovers is another trip to London to take on Dartford on the 31st January as next weekend's fixture with Braintree Town has been postponed due to their involvement in the FA Trophy. 

Woking: Cole, Newton (Murtagh - 90), McNerney (C), Clarke, Jones, Arthur, Netsy, Goddard, Payne, Marriott (Sole – 68), Lafayette (Rendell - 71).

Unused Substitutes: Little, Ricketts.

Rovers: Puddy, Lockyer, McChrystal (C), Parkes, Brown, Gosling, Mansell, Clarke (Leadbitter), Monkhouse, Taylor (Harrison -75), Blissett (Easter – 58).

Unused Substitutes: Mildenhall (GK), Dawson.