Chippenham Town 1-2 Bristol Rovers
Pre-season Fixture, The Thornbury Surfacing Stadium, Friday 4 July 2025
Bristol Rovers started the 2025/26 pre-season campaign with an energetic 2-1 win against Chippenham Town.
Ruel Sotiriou and Micah Anthony got the goals for the Gas either side of half-time in a first run-out since the start of the squad’s summer preparations.
Fans in attendance at The Thornbury Surfacing Stadium also got a look at new signings Josh McEachran, Jack Sparkes, Brad Young and Maucalay Southam-Hales, as well as the returning Alfie Kilgour, and a surprise introduction to the new 2025/26 Away Kit!
The match kicked off with early attacking intent from Rovers, who went down the right flank immediately after kick-off. However, Chippenham Town threatened first — a quick tackle led to an offensive move and a scoring chance, but the shot went wide.
Rovers responded with a corner, which was well defended, yet they kept pushing forward. A series of free-kicks and attacking runs followed, with Sotiriou displaying flair, dribbling into the box and forcing a strong save from the Chippenham goalkeeper.
Their pressure paid off two minutes later, as Promise Omochere controlled the ball on the right and crossed it into the box for Sotiriou to score, making it 1-0.
Chippenham responded and nearly equalised with a right-sided throw-in and a shot on target, but Jed Ward made a fantastic diving save to deny them.
Both teams exchanged chances; Thomas tested the keeper from the left for Rovers, while Chippenham’s No.20 shot just wide shortly after.
At 30 minutes, the away side made four substitutions: Southam-Hales, McEachran, Sotiriou, and Omochere were replaced by Joel Senior, Anthony, Ollie Dewsbury, and a trialist.
Rovers continued to press, creating numerous opportunities through Sparkes, Dewsbury and and Forde, who dribbled dangerously into the box. Efforts from Thomas and Kilgour narrowly missed or were blocked.
The half ended with frustration as Chippenham equalised following an unlucky bounce over Ward, resulting in an open goal and tap in.
As is usual with the first game of pre-season, wholesale changes saw a different XI start the second half to the first. The likes of Isaac Hutchinson, Taylor Moore, Bryant Bilongo and Kofi Shaw entered the fixture.
The Gas increased their tempo and responded with several shots on target, including one by Dewsbury, which the goalkeeper saved.
Senior brought a threat from the right, his dangerous curling cross was met by Shaw and sent over.
Soon after, a corner saw Micah Anthony send the ball into the back of the net, giving Rovers a 2-1 lead.
Chippenham pressed late in the game, but Rovers defended well, controlling the play. The visitors had one last promising opportunity — a brilliant solo run slicing through defenders, but the shot curled just wide of the post.
A solid effort from the Gas to kickstart the pre-season schedule.
Bristol Rovers: Ward, Sparkes, Kilgour, Forde, Omochere, Sotiriou, Thomas, Taylor (c), Mceachran, Conteh, Southham-Hales
Substitutes: Young, Senior, Moore, Hutchinson, Ellison, Anthony, Shaw, Bilongo, Dewsbury, White, Leipus, Moody,
Goals: Sotiriou, Antony
Chippenham Town: Henry, Vaughan, Carroll, Haines, Fleet, Mehew, Koszela, Touray, Parsons
Attendance: 1465
