THE GAME
At the fifth time of asking Rovers delivered a first win of the 2025/26 season, thanks to Ellis Harrison’s first half strike, his 50th goal in all competitions for the club and first since his return to the club in the summer.
Darrell Clarke made three changes to his starting XI for this match as Harrison, Luke Thomas and Isaac Hutchinson came in for Fabrizio Cavegn, Ryan Howley and the injured Ruel Sotiriou.
Having lost to the same opponents less than two weeks ago, in the Carabao Cup, Rovers were intent on avenging that defeat and picking up their first three point haul of the campaign and dominated first half proceedings.
In spite of that dominance, though, there were very few goalscoring opportunities for Clarke’s side although Harrison had hit one shot wide of the upright and headed into the side netting from a Macauley Southam-
Hales ball into the box before his crucial goal.
That arrived in the 34th minute after skipper Alfie Kilgour had flicked on a long throw from Southam-Hales which the striker collected before volleying a shot past visiting goalkeeper Jake Eastwood.
The visitors had found it difficult to get out of their own half in that opening 45 minutes and seldom threatened a solid Rovers back line.
That began to change after the break, although there were further opportunities for Rovers as Promise Omochere drew a save from Eastwood and Harrison was denied a second goal by the keeper.
It was then the turn of the visitors to dominate possession, but although they created chances, every attempt on goal was either blocked by a resolute Rovers back line or hit wide of the target. Goalkeeper Luke Southwood had no difficulty in keeping a second successive clean sheet as he was rarely tested during the 90 minutes.
Backed vociferously by a partisan home crowd, Rovers finally ended a dismal run of games without winning and, gradually, Clarke is stamping his mark on this side.
WHAT THEY SAID
‘It’s a win for our fans today. It’s been a long time since we won a game. The performance I thought in the first half was good. In the second half, we’re hanging in there too much for my liking, but I get it and understand why, I think the fitness levels are not where I want them to be for different reasons, but we’ll get there but credit to the lads for how much they dug in and ground out another clean sheet.
‘We defended our box really well and the lads have put their bodies on the line, but we want to be seeing games out more comfortably than that at times at home, but it was needs must today and a pleasing win for our supporters who have been through a lot of pain.’
‘It was pleasing for Ellis to get off the mark, another player that needs a hell of a lot of fitness work. We’ve just got to keep building these players up because I’m having to play them, the squad is not the size I probably want it to be, and we still need two or three new additions to the group as well. But players are putting their bodies on the line today, and I thought on Tuesday night we played a lot better as well, if I’m honest with you. But today was just about digging it out.’ Rovers Head Coach Darrell Clarke
‘It feels absolutely immense. It was definitely hard fought, but we got the job done. It’s three points and the first win at The Mem since March. It’s a good feeling. The fans were right behind us. It’s an important win and we’re ready to crack on now. Happy days.
‘Everyone was needed. Everyone came on and made an impact and did their job and dug deep, and that’s what you’ve got to do. It’s a tough league, and they’re not a bad side. They chucked everything at us, and it shows good character, desire and heart. With the fans behind us, we were able to hang on and keep our clean sheet and get the three points. So, it’s a happy dressing room.
‘I get told my job for the long throw. My job is to go and attack it and try to flick it behind me for Ellis or Promise Omochere. That’s the first one that’s worked. It skidded off the top of my head, and Ellis, doing what he does, was there. He was alert and put it in the back of the net, and it was a great finish. It was an absolutely brilliant goal, and we do work on them as always.’ Rovers skipper Alfie Kilgour
‘First half we didn’t do the basics well enough. We played with a real lack of composure for the first time this season. That was an eye opener for me to see that and I’ve got to work out why. And then in the second half when we’ve played with real composure and quality, we lacked the end product for the first time this season.
‘First half we got beat because we didn’t do the football basics well and in the second half we didn’t win because we did have the killer moment. I’m not going to praise the players on the back of a defeat, but we did finish really strongly and should have at least got a point.
‘It’s clear to see for everyone we’re taking one giant step forward at the moment and we take a slight step backwards – that’s where we have to find the consistency. Worst case today is that has to be a draw if we’re not going to be good enough to win it. Those are the bits that with a new group you just build over time. As you can tell I’m disappointed with the result but I’m not angry or frustrated with the players. The effort, the application is there – we just fell short on simplicity at times.’ Cambridge Head Coach Neil Harris
