Bristol Rovers 3-0 Newport County
Sky Bet League Two, The Memorial Stadium, Saturday 31 January 2026
A spectacular brace from Yusuf Akhamrich and a late finish from Fabrizio Cavegn earned Bristol Rovers a 3-0 victory over Newport County in Sky Bet League Two.
In a hard-fought Severnside derby, Rovers dominated throughout. A dangerous shot from Ciarán Brennan in the early stages went past the back post, but the Gas gained complete control after two superb first-half strikes from Akhamrich, who made an immediate impression on his first start in blue-and-white quarters.
Several chances from the Exiles’ Bobby Kamwa only just missed the net, but late into the match Cavegn gained possession, with assistance from Shaq Forde and Mees Rijks, firing into the bottom left corner.
Shaq Forde attempted to create a fourth goal for the Gas in the latter stages of the nine minutes of stoppage time, but his chance was saved by Jordan Wright, and the Pirates were able to walk away with the three points, lifting them two places on the table.
The first chance of the game fell to the Exiles, when Anthony Glennon fired a corner to the box, meeting with Brennan as he overshot narrowly to the left.
It was not long until Akhamrich stole all of the headlines on his first-ever senior start. He showed his intentions with a blocked shot on the edge of the box before lifting the roof off The Mem moments later, collecting possession on the edge of the box before curling a left-footed strike into the top corner.
A few unsuccessful set piece situations were had by the Gas, including when Jack Sparkes whipped a cross towards Fabrizio Cavegn in the box, but he was unable to direct it towards the net on the stretch.
Akhamrich was full of confidence and lifted the fans off their seat again later in the first half. Alfie Kilgour spotted the winger race down the right, and the 20-year-old brought the ball down brilliantly before slotting past the goalkeeper. As the match moved into its final minutes, Jack Sparkes was eager to add a third goal. His first effort was pushed away by Wright before his second deflected over the bar.
The Pirates responded with a free-kick of their own. Akhamrich, who won the set-piece after driving inside from the right before being taken down, looked to complete his hat-trick but drilled his shot straight at Wright.
The winger always looked for a shooting opportunity and looked to repeat his earlier magic with another shot from range, but Wright punched it away from safety. In a back-and-forth beginning to the second half, the Exiles retaliated, with Bobby Kamwa picking up possession on the left and firing a shot at Brad Young.
Towards the closing stages of the contest, Rovers added a third in the final moments through a regular source. Forde was electric throughout the afternoon, and he rolled the ball down the left to the striker, who came inside before blasting his shot into the back of the net for his 14th goal in all competitions.
Forde provided a late chance for the Gas after Mees Rijks played the ball to him outside of the box, but Wright saved his shot from outside the box.
Bristol Rovers: Young, Sparkes, Kilgour ©, Mola (Thompson-Sommers 98), Forde, Akhamrich (Senior 81), De Havilland, Balmer, Harrison (Rijks 79), Harbottle, Cavegn
Subs not used: Southwood, Thomas, McEachran, Conteh
Bookings: Sparkes
Goals: Akhamrich (x2), Cavegn
Newport County: Wright, Shephard (Thomas 56), Jenkins, Delaney (Lloyd 46, Jamieson 75), Baker ©, Glennon, Brennan, Biggins, Kamwa (Davies 86), Crole, Spellman (Garner 74)
Subs not used: MacDonald, Evans
Bookings: Glennon, Biggins
Referee: Will Finnie
Attendance: 8591 (1364 away)
