Bristol Rovers 2-1 Exeter City
Tuesday 22nd SeptemberSecond half goals from Cristian Montano and Jamie Lucas saw Rovers run out 2-1 winners against Exeter City in this friendly match this afternoon.
The visitors, who had seen a first half penalty saved by Steve Mildenhall scored their consolation goal through Cameron Gill, from the spot, with five minutes of the game remaining.
There was an early chance for Billy Bodin but his shot, from Jake Gosling’s cross, was well saved by Christy Pym and after Mildenhall had saved a shot that was deflected off of Tyler Lyttle, Pym made another fine save from the Rovers striker.
Mildenhall conceded a penalty twenty minutes in when he rushed out of his goal in an attempt to clear a ball played in over the top of his defenders. However he succeeded only in bringing down an Exeter player. However the shot stopper redeemed himself when he dived low to his left to save Cameron Reid’s spot kick.
Reid hit the upright with a ferocious drive five minutes later, and Bodin fired wide when well placed shortly afterwards, though neither side could make the breakthrough before the half time whistle.
Three minutes into the second half Cristian Montano fired Rovers into the lead when he hit a ferocious angled drive beyond Pym and into the far corner of the net.
Seven minutes later Montano turned provider, crossing from the left to Jamie Lucas who hit a fine volley past Pym to double the lead.
Lucas might have scored a second, but hit another volley wide of the target and at the other end substitute Bradley Confrey cleared a scuffed Exeter effort off the line.
Exeter pulled a goal back with five minutes remaining, when Alfie Kilgour was adjudged to have committed a foul in the area and Gill beat Mildenhall from the spot.
Rovers had to withstand some late pressure from Exeter but held out to preserve their lead.
Rovers: Steve Mildenhall, Tyler Lyttle, Alfie Kilgour, Mark McChrystal (Bradley Confrey, 60), Danny Greenslade, Jake Gosling (Ryan Broom, 60), Lee Mansell, Ryan Burge, Cristian Montano, Jamie Lucas (Elliot Green, 66), Billy Bodin (David Rogalski, 46)
Substitutes: Kieran Preston, George Corp