Bristol Rovers 2-0 Cambridge United
FA Cup First Round Proper, The Memorial Stadium, Friday 6 November 2026
Second-half goals from Reiss Russell-Denny and Fabrizio Cavegn earned Bristol Rovers a deserved 2-0 win over Cambridge United and progression in the Emirates FA Cup.
The home side dominated throughout against their higher-placed, Sky Bet League One opposition and got a warranted lead ten minutes into the second half thanks to Russell-Denny’s second goal in as many games.
Cavegn doubled the lead 15 minutes later with a typically well-taken finish, brushing off a well-saved effort which the Swiss attacker knows he should have scored just moments later.
Cambridge’s Sullay Kaikai had hit the cross-bar in the first half from a free-kick and would do the same from the penalty spot on 82 minutes, while Brad Young made a fantastic stop from a set-piece routine.
Victory over Cambridge puts Rovers into the hat for the Second Round Proper and continued a run of eight consecutive FA Cup first round wins by the Gas; a run stretching back to the 2018/19 season.
Manager Steve Evans rang the changes for this FA Cup tie with the returning Kofi Balmer and Tommy Leigh back from their respective suspensions, while Reiss Russell-Denny, Ben Purrington and Joe Quigley also came into the side.
The first and latter were involved in the first real chance of note at the Memorial Stadium, with Quigley knocking down Balmer’s cross-field ball into the path of Alfie Kilgour. The captain fizzed a left-footed half-volley narrowly wide from the edge of the area.
A defensive lapse by the visitors almost allowed Clinton Mola to play in Fabrizio Cavegn, but the forward’s opportunity was denied by the oncoming Jake Eastwood.
Kilgour was involved again midway through the first-half, finding Tom James with a tasty pass from deep. The full-back tried an audacious volley on goal which was wide of the far post.
The No2 then had another chance of glory, firing a free-kick over, before Cambridge gave a warning of their own when Kaikai hit the woodwork with a free-kick of his own moments before the half-time whistle.
Rovers’ momentum continued in the second half and the Gas certainly should have got the lead on 56 minutes when Quigley found Cavegn. The attacker had the option to play in Mola but instead shot, seeing his effort deflected away.
Any frustration with the decision quickly melted away though when the Pirates grabbed a deserved lead just a moment later. A corner routine saw Mola set up Russell-Denny and the midfielder fired home from outside the area; his second goal in as many games in the blue-and-white quarters.
Cambridge responded with a trio of substitutions but still the home side pressed. Leigh found Cavegn with a fantastic through ball but the Swiss striker – who had all the time in the world – could only fire his shot straight at Eastwood.
Cavegn’s disappointment faded away three minutes later though, hitting a powerful strike to double Rovers’ deserved advantage.
Two goals down, the U’s immediately stepped into another gear and almost found deficit-halving finish, only for Young to make a superb, flying stop to deny a goal-bound header.
The away side were awarded a penalty on 82 minutes. There was a sharp intake of breath inside the Memorial Stadium as Kaikai stepped up for Cambridge. He struck the cross-back with his powerful effort, leading to perhaps the loudest cheer of the evening so far across the home faithful in the 3,657 in attendance.
The win was secured and so was progression in the tournament for an eighth consecutive season by Rovers.
Bristol Rovers: Young, James, Balmer, Kilgour (C), Mola, Russell-Denny (Kamwa 73), Quigley, Purrington, Gough, Leigh (Forde 73), Cavegn (Sanyaolu 84)
Subs not used: Binn (GK), Sparkes, Kelly, Southam-Hales, Appiah, De Havilland
Goals: Russell-Denny 57, Cavegn 72
Booked: Kilgour, Leigh, Mola
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Bennett (Heffernan 64), Bauer (Perry 79), Watts (C), Moxom, Appere (Stead 78), Knight, Kaikai, Mpanzu, Bradshaw (Heath 64), Bangura-Williams (Lavery 65)
Subs not used: Breeze (GK), McLoughlin, Curtis, Hoddle
Booked: Bennett
Referee: Jamie O’Connor
Attendance: 3,657 (includes 260 away)
