Bristol Rovers fell to a 1-0 defeat on opening day of the 2025/26 Sky Bet League Two season against Harrogate Town.
Stephen Duke-McKenna’s chipped finish in the 63rd minute was the difference between the two sides at The Memorial Stadium.
Rovers dominated for large portions of the affair but failed to convert any of their chances, leaving the door open for the north Yorkshire side to snatch all three points in Bristol.
Darrel Clarke’s side will take confidence knowing they had the opportunities to be victorious and look to ensure they can turn one point into three when travelling to Fleetwood Town next weekend.
Rovers started well, taking control of the ball and having the lion's share of the chances. Clinton Mola, who came straight into Clarke’s side after injury, struck an effort over the bar from close range, and a huge scramble in the box saw Sotiriou go down, but the referee Carl Brook waved away any appeals.
Promise Omochere collected the ball outside the box and did well to hold off his man before firing an effort at ex-Rovers shot-stopper James Belshaw, but the Sulphurites keeper tipped it round the post for a corner.
The Pirates continued to dominate the game but struggled to find the last piece of the puzzle in attack. Wing-backs Jack Sparkes and Joel Senior posed a significant threat in the wide areas, being able to not only deliver dangerous crosses but also get on the end of them.
Harrogate showed flashes of danger when they had the chance to counter. Striker Mason Bennet had their only chance of the half, glancing a header past Southwood’s goal. However, the forward was largely nullified by the new Club captain, Alfie Kilgour, who used his strength and size to stop several away attacks from materialising.
Clarke’s side continued to create early in the second half, winger Luke Thomas drove into the box before laying the ball to Sparkes, whose shot was deflected wide.
In the 63rd minute, winger Stephen Duke-Mckenna was slipped in behind the Rovers defence and chipped the ball past Southwood and into the bottom corner to take the lead for the away side. There were calls for offside, but the assistant referee was happy there was no offence.
Rovers nearly equalised minutes later as two substitutes combined, Isaac Hutchinson played in Ellis Harrison, but the striker could only hit the post, almost a perfect return for the Gas academy product.
Southwood had a strong performance in between the sticks for Rovers, preventing Harrogate from doubling their lead on numerous occasions, saving a cross-come shot from Duke-McKenna and denying McCoulsky in a one-on-one just minutes later.
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Senior, Sparkes, Moore, Kilgour, Mola (Bilongo 82), Omochere (Harrison 68), Sotiriou (Dewsbury 68), McEachran (Howley 68), Conteh, Thomas (Hutchinson 68)
Subs not used: Young, Ellison
Booked: Bilongo
Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Evans, Bradbury, Burrell, Morris, Bennett (McCoulsky 45), Duke-McKenna, O’Connor, Taylor, Smith (Hill 71), Cass
Subs not used: Oxley, Asare, Faulkner, Fox, Gibson
Goals: Duke-McKenna
Booked: McCoulsky, O'Connor, Hill
Official: Carl Brook
Attendance: 9242 (195 Away)
