Swindon Town 1-2 Bristol Rovers
James Spruce scored a late goal as Rovers defeated Swindon Town in today's Central League encounter.
The game looked destined to finish in a draw, after a well-taken first-half goal from Jamie Lucas was cancelled out by a Rhys Sharpe header just before the break, but the substitute striker slotted home a winner for Rovers in the final minutes to register Rovers' second win on the bounce in the Central League.
Rovers named a youthful side for the fixture, which included Kieran Hodges in goal and Lewis Ellington pairing Jamie Lucas up front, with Danny Greenslade and Ryan Broom also included in the starting eleven.
It was Jamie Lucas who registered the first opportunity of the game when the striker was able to control a flicked header that saw the ball run into his path and was able to dribble into the area before curling a left-footed shot that rose narrowly over the crossbar.
Rovers' keeper Kieran Hodges did well to prevent Nathan Delfouneso from opening the scoring, with the striker being played in behind the Rovers defence, but Hodges stood tall to deflect Delfouneso's effort away from danger.
James Lucas fired Rovers into a first-half lead with a fine individual goal midway through the first-half. A quickly taken throw-in by Danny Greenslade found the striker inside the area and Lucas produced a fine bit of skill to lift the ball over a defender and kept his composure to slot the ball into the net from close-range.
Rovers quickly followed up Lucas' goal with an opportunity to extend their goal advantage, when Luke Russe slide a perfectly weighted through ball that stretched the Swindon defence and allowed Lewis Ellington the opportunity to get a shot away from inside the area, but his effort was turned away by the outstretched legs of Swindon goalkeeper, Will Henry.
Swindon managed to score an equaliser in the minutes before the half-time break, when a corner from the right was met by Rhys Sharpe, who managed to guide a header across a crowded goalmouth and into the bottom corner, with his effort clipping the post on its way into the net.
Danny Greenslade came close to scoring in what was a quiet second half in terms of chances on goal, with the defender picking up a loose ball twenty yards from goal and hitting a well struck left-footed attempted that bounced just wide of goal.
Rovers created an opportunity in the final minutes of the game, with the energetic Ryan Broom racing to the byline and delivering a low cross into the area that narrowly escaped Jamie Lucas and the far post.
After a series of late chances, Rovers were able to find a late winner when substitute James Spruce was able to take advantage of slack pass by the Swindon defence and the advanced towards goal before slotting home a composed finish.
Rovers' next fixture in the Central League will see them travel to face Newport County next week.
Rovers: Kieran Hodges (G), Tyler Little, Toby Rennie, Emmanuel Adebowale (T), Danny Greenslade, Ryan Broom, Marc Klok (T), Dan Lamminan (64' Jame Spruce), Luke Russe, Lewis Ellington (64' Tyrone Tucker-Dixon), Jamie Lucas.
Subs: Conor Jones, Sam Isles, Matt Swan