Bromley 1-2 Bristol Rovers
Emirates FA Cup, The CopperJax Community Stadium, Saturday 1 November 2025
Bristol Rovers defeated Bromley 2-1 to progress to the second round of the Emirates FA Cup after goals from Fabrizio Cavegn and Joel Cotterill.
The hosts had the better of the play in the first half as their aerial threat from Deji Elerewe and Omar Sowunmi kept the Rovers backline busy throughout the first 45 minutes.
The Gas opened the scoring in the second half as Cavegn nodded in from close range against the run of play, and the lead was quickly doubled as Cavegn beat an offside trap and slid the ball across for Cotterill to tap in.
Bromley would not lie down as they halved the deficit through Jemiah Umolu and thought they had equalised late on after Sowunmi's close-range finish. However, after a discussion between the referee, Isaac Searle and his linesman, the goal was disallowed, and the Gas progressed to the second round.
The first chance fell for the hosts as a smart free-kick routine caught the Rovers defence off guard, but the eventual shot by Lakyle Samuel was saved by Luke Southwood before the offside flag was raised.
The Pirates responded with an opportunity through the ever-dangerous Cavegn on the half-hour. Ruel Sotiriou slipped Cavegn in behind, but his snapshot found the side netting.
Southwood made another good save as Jode Arthurs powered an effort toward his goal, but the Gas shot-stopper prevented it well.
Bromley’s aerial threat was a theme of the first half; central defenders Deji Elerewe and Sowunmi were often targeted from all set-piece opportunities, but a new partnership of Tom Lockyer and Stephan Negru defended their box well.
Southwood continued to be imperious between the sticks, producing three fantastic saves to keep the tie level. Michael Cheek was denied from close range twice, and Marcus Dinanga saw a drilled effort from outside the box turned around the post.
The Pirates were under serious pressure but gained the lead with 15 minutes to play through Cavegn. Joel Cotterill released Macauley Southam-Hales down the wing, who cut the ball back to Luke Thomas. The winger then chipped a ball to the back post for Cavegn to nod in from close range.
Rovers doubled their advantage as Cavegn got the run on the Bromley defence and slid the ball across for Cotterill to tap in for his first goal for the Gas.
Bromley halved the gas advantage as Umolu nodded home a cross from wide to give the hosts hope. The Ravens thought they had found their equaliser from Omar Sowunmi, but after a brief discussion with his linesman, it was deemed offside and the Gas escaped.
Bromley: Smith, Elerewe, Charles, Sowunmi, Cheek,Dinanga (Thompson 64) (Umolu 67), Pinnock, Hondermarck (Krauhaus 80, Arthurs (Whitely 80), Sameul (Ilunga 80), Odutayo
Subs not used: Long, Cameron, Stephen-Iwumene, Ifill
Goals: Umolu
Booked: Charles
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Mola, Forde (Thomas 64), Sotiriou, Lockyer (Moore 64), Cotterill (Howley 83), Southam-Hales (Lopata 83), Chang (Conteh 58) Bilongo, Negru, Cavegn
Subs not used: Young, English, Issaka, Dewsbury,
Goals: Cavegn, Cotterill
Booked: Negru, Southwood,Moore
Referee: Isaac Searle
