Cheltenham Town 1-0 Bristol Rovers
Sky Bet League Two, The EV Charger Points Stadium, Saturday 22 November 2025
Bristol Rovers fell to a 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town in Sky Bet League Two at the EV Charger Points Stadium.
Rovers started the game as the stronger side. Chances came for Fabirzio Cavegn and Ellis Harrison in the early stages of the affair as the Gas piled on the pressure.
The Robins rarely tested Luke Southwood in the Pirates' net, but scored the only goal of the contest 20 minutes from the end. Jonathon Tomkinson got on the end of a deep corner from Jordan Thomas to give the hosts the advantage.
Rovers searched for an equaliser as Joel Cotteril and Jack Sparkes came close with efforts from range, but could not find the goal as the home side took all three points on a cold Saturday afternoon.
Rovers started the half strongly and won two corners in the opening two minutes. Cavegn broke away from the Cheltenham defence before laying a pass out to Macauley Southam-Hales, who delivered a low cross that could not quite find Harrison at the back post.
Harrison came close after a free kick was cleared towards the forward, who struck an effort on the volley that was narrowly over. Another chance came for Rovers as the home side gave the ball to Cavegn, but his left-footed effort was parried away by Joe Day in the Cheltenham goal.
The home side struggled to create clear chances in the first, with the Gas defence proving to be a tough customer at the EV Charger Point Stadium. Ryan Broom came closest with a fierce strike from outside the box but could not test Luke Southwood.
The start of the second half was closely contested, with lots of challenges going in and a lot of action for referee Paul Howard as both sides fought to take control.
Harrison had the first chance of the half, arriving at the back post from Joel Cotterill’s free-kick delivery, but his stretched effort was narrowly wide. Cotterril hit the post midway through the half as his effort from distance struck a Robins defender and wrongfooted Joe Day in goal.
Cheltenham struggled to create opportunities, netting the only goal of the contest through a set-piece. Tomkinson nipped at the back post after a cross and stabbed the ball past Southwood to give the hosts the lead.
Rovers fought until the end but were unable to find an equaliser in the late stages. Freddie Issaka came on and looked dangerous on the left, having a shot blocked after coming in on the left, with Cotterill also seeing a strike stopped and Clinton Mola lifting an effort over.
Cheltenham Town: Day, Kinsella, Wilson, Thomas (Power 92), Broom, Taylor (Adelakun 63), Bickerstaff, Archer, Sherring, Stevenson (Martin 63), Tomkinson
Subs not used: Backwell, Diallo, Harmon, Power, Willcox
Goals: Tomkinson
Booked: Wilson, Tomkinson, Thomas, Adelakun
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Sparkes, Mola, Lockyer, Cotterill, Harrison (Dewsbury 66), Conteh, Southam-Hales, Chang (Issaka 76), Negru (Thomas 76), Cavegn
Subs not used: Young, Moore, Howley, Bilongo
Booked: Conteh
Referee: Paul Howard
Attendance: 5465 (1519 away)
