Bristol Rovers 2-1 Newport County
Bristol Rovers came from behind to record a 2-1 victory over Newport County yesterday in a friendly match at the club’s training ground.Marcus Stewart used several first team players, with the likes of Mark McCrystal, Christian Montano, Rory Fallon, James Clarke and Ollie Clarke all making appearances.
The home side that started brightly and Christian Montano found a pocket of space and tested the County goalkeeper who made a routine stop to deny the Colombian.
Moments later, Rovers had a penalty shout turned down, when Jake Gosling delivered a fine cross which picked out Mark McCrystal, who was bundled down in the area but the referee waved away the protests.
However, it was the away side that broke the deadlock in the 12th minute, when a clever free kick found Dean Morgan in space who made no mistake slotting it past Will Puddy.
Both sides failed to create any real opportunities since the opener, but it was the dangerous Gosling produced a fine cross until Rory Fallon couldn’t get his leaping header on target.
The second half saw one change for the Gas with Mark McCrystal being replaced by Bradley Confrey. Shortly after the restart, Rory Fallon bundled his way through the Newport back-line before his snap shot went agonisingly past the far post, with the keeper stranded.
Rovers began to build momentum and came closest to levelling when substitute Blake Davies almost made an immediate impact, when his low driven shot struck the outside of the post.
Marcus Stewart’s men were not to be denied again when some good link-up play between Fallon and Montano, carve open the Welsh side, and the winger made no mistake firing a low shot past the goalkeeper.
Shortly after the restart, the Gas completed the turnaround when the lively Rory Fallon flicked on a long ball over the top, for Christian Montano to finish clinically past the goalkeeper with a two touch finish.
The home side continued to press when Fallon used his strength well to hold off the Newport defensive line and perfectly guided it to Davies, who fired wide.
Montano was causing all sorts of problems for the away side, and after some brilliant work down the left touchline, picked out the unmarked Fallon at the far post, but his first time volley flew just over the bar.
The former West Ham United youth product was at the heart of things again, when he made a powerful run down to the by-line, and his cross found Broom on the edge of the area whose left foot strike was well held by the goalkeeper.
The Pirates withstood late pressure from County to claim a deserved victory over the Exiles heading into a busy fixture list over the coming weeks.
Rovers: Puddy; Broom, McChrystal (Confrey), J. Clarke, Fry; Gosling, O. Clarke (Blake), Malpas, Montano (Green); Mehew (Davies), Fallon.