Bristol Rovers 2-2 Cambridge United
(Rovers win 4-2 on penalties)
Vertu Trophy Roud Of 32, The Memorial Stadium, Tuesday 2 December 2025
Bristol Rovers beat Cambridge United on penalties to progress to the Round Of 16 in the Vertu Trophy after a 2-2 draw at The Memorial Stadium.
Ellis Harrison broke the deadlock for the Gas in the first ten minutes after thumping a penalty down the left side of the goal. He doubled the score minutes later after Luke Southwood’s long-range pass met Luke Thomas, who played it across to the striker to fire in.
The U's responded in the second half to send the fixture to penalties, with Kelland Watts getting one back for the visitors before Sullay Kaikai levelled with a stoppage-time spot-kick.
The Pirates regained their composure in the shoot-out. Luke Southwood saved two penalties, and the Gas slotted four of their own, with Kamil Conteh stepping up to win it for Rovers.
Both sides scrambled for possession in the opening minutes of the match, with chances few and far between. However, it wasn’t long until Harrison opened the scoring for the hosts.
Freddie Issaka made his first start for the Gas and made the most of a loose ball and raced into the box before being brought down by former Rovers player James Gibbons. Harrison took responsibility from the spot and thumped his effort down the left side of the goal, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Ben Knight tried to find the leveller quickly and won a free kick in the visitors’ half, but as Glenn McConnell delivered a light free kick, Mamadou Jobe’s header at the back post was too high and soared over the bar.
The Gas made the most of the missed chance with a clinical attack from back to front. Luke Southwood launched a skilful aerial pass in Luke Thomas’ direction, with the winger collecting the ball before slotting it across to Harrison, who drove a low strike past Ben Hughes.
The visitors improved in the second half and created plenty of chances to score. Kaikai had a curling effort headed away bravely by Kacper Lopata before the U's got one back. Following a corner from George Munday, the ball ricocheted around the box between the hosts and visitors until Watts' left-footed shot found its way past Southwood.
Neil Harris' men gained the momentum and went searching for a leveller. Kaikai escaped his marker down the left and looked to score, but Stephan Negru came across with a brilliant slide tackle to deny the 30-year-old.
The Pirates defended strongly and mostly stopped Cambridge from creating meaningful opportunities before the away team won a last-minute penalty, with Southwood bringing down Liam Bennett.
Kaikai stepped up to take the spot-kick against Southwood, with his low strike into the bottom left corner just beating the outstretched arm of the goalkeeper, who guessed the right way.
Fabrizio Cavegn opened the penalty shoot-out, meeting the bottom-left corner. Kaikai then took Cambridge's opening penalty merely moments after scoring from the spot, but Southwood pushed it away this time.
Jack Sparkes, James Brophy and Luke Thomas all scored before Southwood came up with another stop, this time denying Munday before Callum Morton saw his shot saved. Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu netted for Cambridge, but it was enough for the visitors, with Kamil Conteh slotting his effort away to help Rovers progress to the Round Of 16.
Bristol Rovers: Southwood ©, Sparkes, Mola, Thomas, Cotterill (Howley 46), Harrison (Cavegn 46), McEachran (Conteh 46), Chang, Negru, Issaka (Morton 56), Łopata (Moore 69)
Subs not used: Young, Forde
Goals: Harrison (2)
Booked: Southwood, Mola, Chang, Conteh, Howley
Cambridge United: Hughes, Kachunga (Munday 64), Kaikai, Knight (Mayor 83), Ibsen Rossi, Mpanzu, Bradshaw, Jobe (Watts 64), Gibbons ©, (Bennett 83), McConnell (Brophy 46), Hoddle
Subs not used: Eastwood, McKoy
Goals: Watts, Kaikai
Booked: Hoddle
Referee: James Durkin
Attendance: 878 (100 away)
