Bristol Rovers 3-2 Bolton Wanderers
Sky Bet League One, The Memorial Stadium, Tuesday 11 March
Connor Taylor’s late header capped a topsy-turvy thriller at The Memorial Stadium and secured a sensational 3-2 win for Bristol Rovers over Bolton Wanderers.
Chris Martin’s fifth-minute penalty, won by Kofi Shaw, set the tone for an enthralling evening in BS7, with Bolton levelling before half-time through Aaron Morley’s powerful finish.
Martin got his second on 63 minutes after a phenomenal ball from Shaw found Ruel Sotiriou, who in turn crossed for his strike partner to score, but again Wanderers bit back as John McAtee turned in seven minutes later.
But there was time for a fifth, winning goal, which fell Rovers way as centre-back Taylor rose highest for a towering header, securing a memorable victory for the Gas.
Iñigo Calderón made four changes to the starting XI from the weekend’s win over Huddersfield Town, with Academy graduate Shaw coming into the team for his first home start in league football.
The 18-year-old was immediately involved too, going on a driving run into the Bolton penalty box and forcing a foul, winning the Gas a spot-kick. Up stepped the ever-reliable Martin, who sent Luke Southwood the wrong way to open the scoring.
The Trotters were League One’s in-form side heading into Tuesday evening’s outing and immediately sprung an assault on the Rovers goal in search of the leveller. Former Gas attacker Aaron Collins blasted an effort well over the cross-bar before forcing Jed Ward into a sensational save from close-range, after Gethin Jones’ cut-back.
The hosts, despite seeking the attacking outlets, were penned back and eventually saw an equaliser scored six minutes before half-time. A whipped in corner fell kindly for Morley, who lashed in with venom at the near post to bring Bolton back into the contest.
An electric start to the second half saw Shaw at the centre of Rovers’ play again, with a cross from the youngster causing chaos in the Bolton area, allowing Sotiriou to get a wicked shot away at Southwood.
Moments later, the No37 stung Southwood’s palms himself from distance before Martin and Sotiriou superbly combined to send the latter through one-on-one, whipping his effort agonisingly wide of the post.
A stunning counter-attack put Rovers deservedly back in front just after the hour mark. Unsurprisingly, Shaw was involved again, winning possession in his own half before finding Sotiriou’s darting run. The No10’s cross was pinpoint for Martin, who tucked in a cool first-time finish.
Again though, Wanderers bit back. And, again, it came from a corner. This time McAtee was in the right place to turn past Ward from close-range.
But there would be a final twist in the tale in Rovers’ favour. A late free-kick awarded to the Gas was whipped in by Isaac Hutchinson, and Taylor rose highest to turn in his header, sending The Mem into elation and securing all three points.
Bristol Rovers: Ward, Senior (Hutchinson 76), Moore (Thomas 83), Wilson ©, Mola (Sousa 83), Sotiriou, Taylor, Martin (Sinclair 71), Swinkels, Butcher, Shaw (Forde 83)
Subs not used: Hall (GK), Dewsbury
Goals: Martin 6 (p), 63, Taylor 87
Booked: Forde
Bolton Wanderers: Southwood, Jones (Forino-Joseph 84), Murphy (Mendes Gomes 68), Thomason © (Randall 84), Sheehan, Forrester, Morley, Toal, Collins, Schon (Osei-Tutu 59), McAtee
Subs not used: Baxter (GK), Lolo, Matete,
Goals: Morley 39, McAtee 70
Referee: Carl Brook
Attendance: 7,644
