Young Rovers XI draw with Cribbs
Cribbs FC 1
Graffigano (36)
Bristol Rovers 1
Lucas (75)
Alan Walsh was in charge of a young Rovers side that drew 1-1 with Cribbs FC at the Lawns this evening.
Trailing at the break, after a first half in which neither side created too many chances, Rovers were stronger in the second half and scored a deserved equaliser through Jamie Lucas.
Had they been a little more composed in front of goal, they would have run out comfortable winners, as the home side didn’t really threaten at all in the second period.
Nevertheless it was a good workout for both sides and our young players can only benefit from playing in games such as this.
In goal for Rovers was triallist Kent Kauppinen, while another triallist, Pierce Mitchell was again in the starting lineup.
The rest of the side was made up of first year pros and first and second year scholars.
Cribbs wasted a couple of early opportunities, while Rovers never really stamped their authority on the game in spite of some good approach work.
A lapse of concentration at the back allowed Dominic Graffigano the chance to open the scoring on 36 minutes, two minutes after the home goalkeeper had saved well from Tom Fry.
Rovers upped the tempo at the start of the second half and Aaron Ward-Baptiste hit a shot over the bar and saw another effort touched round the post by the home keeper.
From the resulting corner Mitchell glanced a header wide of the target.
The equaliser arrived on 75 minutes when Lucas met Danny Greenslade’s free kick from the right and calmly beat the keeper from six yards.
The keeper did well to prevent further goals, as he saved a long range effort from Jay Malpas and made a point blank save from Lucas before the final whistle.
Rovers: Kent Kauppinrn, Tyler Lyttle, Danny Greenslade, Louis Ezwele, Pierce Mitchell, Jay Malpas, Ryan Broom (Donovan Wilson, 76), Dominic Thomas (George Corp, 78), Jamie Lucas, Aaron Ward-Baptiste, Tom Fry (Harrison Trueman, 57).