Bristol Rovers started their Bristol Street Motors campaign with a defeat against Tottenham Hotspur U21s, losing on penalties after a 3-3 draw at The Memorial Stadium.
The Gas led through Isacc Hutchinson, who raced forward with the ball before driving his first goal for the club into the bottom corner.
Matt Taylor’s men were in control but conceded through a moment of magic, with Will Lankshear firing an effort from distance into the top corner.
Mikey Moore turned the score around for the visitors in the second half before Kofi Shaw blasted in his first for the Gas to level. The Lilywhites reestablished their lead through Damola Ajayi, but Rovers would level again, this time through Luke McCormick's header.
Both teams netted their first five penalties before Jake Garrett’s effort was saved, with Oliver Irow blasting in the decisive spot-kick.
Taylor handed first starts to Kofi Shaw, Lino Sousa and Michah Anthony, with the trio and other incoming players looking lively in the opening exchanges, ready to make a positive impression.
The hosts started quickly and broke the deadlock within seven minutes. Hutchinson was allowed to drive forward with possession in Spurs' half, getting to the edge of the box before drilling his right-footed effort across the goal and into the bottom corner.
Rovers gained confidence from their earlier opener and could have doubled their lead soon after. Shaw powered a brilliant low cross from the right into the heart of the box, but Martin could not turn his shot into the net from close range.
Opportunities kept coming for the Gas before the fifteen-minute mark. Hutchinson attempted to add an assist to his goal with an inviting free-kick into the box, but Sousa flicked his effort just wide of the post.
Anthony got out of a tricky situation next to the corner flag cleverly, backheeling a pass through two defenders and through to Sousa, who lifted a cross towards Shaw. The academy graduate got up well and directed his header back across the goal, but it bounced off target.
The Gas could not find a second goal before Tottenham struck a superb leveller against the run of play. Lankshear gathered the ball on the outskirts of the box and whipped a stunning strike into the top corner, just out of the reach of Hall.
Chances were at a premium before the break, with Rovers going the closest to retaking the lead. Shaw displayed tricky feet to beat a defender on the left before whipping a cross into the box. The ball was cleared as far as Hutchinson, who dribbled past one player before lashing his strike over the bar.
Spurs came out of the blocks quickly and took the lead through Moore. The youngster started the attack and powered forward with possession before the ball went out to Ajayi. He forced a great save out of Hall, who dived down to his left, but Moore kept the attack alive and fired in from a tight angle.
The Gas looked for an immediate response and twice went close through Sotiriou. The forward came on at half-time and struck the post with a header after latching onto Sousa's cross before knocking another effort over soon after.
However, the hosts scored an equaliser moments later through Shaw. Spurs goalkeeper Luca Gunter failed to claim a corner from the left, with Shaw reacting quickly to blast his strike into the net.
Rovers were in the ascendancy after scoring and were dangerous from set-pieces. Sousa was the target in the middle, but he missed the goal with two headers.
Spurs looked threatening on the counter-attack, with Ajayi forcing a fantastic reflex save out of Hall before giving the visitors the lead for a second time.
Moore pounced onto a poor pass from Hall and switched the ball over to Ajayi on the right. He then dribbled through the heart of Rovers' half and cooly slotted his shot into the corner.
The Gas refused to fade and scored a third through McCormick, who beat the offside trap to get onto Hutchinson’s cross and direct his header past Gunter.
Both teams went close to a winner before full-time. Tyrese Hall was denied by a sharp stop by Hall, with Sotiriou dancing his way into the box before crashing his shot against the side of the net.
After five perfect penalties from both sides, Garrett had his spot-kick saved, with Oliver Irow blasting in the winner.
Bristol Rovers: Hall, Senior, Sousa, Garrett, Taylor, Martin (Sotiriou 46), Hutchinson, Anthony, McCormick, Forbes, Shaw (Dewsbury 84).
Subs not used: Korswagen, Ellison, Lawrence, White, Leipus
Goals: Hutchinson 7, Shaw 56, McCormick 77
Booked: Forbes 50, Senior 97
Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s: Gunter, Lankshear (Williams 88), Ajayi (Irow 78), Hall, Abbott, McKnight, Cassanova, Moore, Olusesi (Black 78), Akhamrich (Robson 72), King
Subs not used: Keeley, Linton, Rowswell
Goals: Lankshear 27, Moore 50, Ajayi 70
Booked: McKnight 53, Moore 69
Referee: James Oldham
Attendance: 1,584 (241 away)
