THE MATCH
Rovers began their Bristol Street Motors campaign with a 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur U-21’s at The Memorial Stadium, though the rules of the competition state that in the event of the scores being level at 90 minutes then it will be decided by a penalty shootout. Tottenham duly won this one, 6-5 and earned themselves two points while Rovers picked up just the one point.
Isaac Hutchinson gave Rovers a seventh minute lead but Will Lankshear equalised for the visitors just 20 minutes later and it remained all square at the half time whistle.
Mikey Moore gave Tottenham the lead five minutes into the second half but Kofi Shaw drew Rovers level again with 56 minutes on the
Man of the Match Kofi Shaw
clock. Damola Ajayi edged Spurs in front again on 70 minutes before Luke McCormick equalised for Matt Taylor’s side with 13 minutes of the game remaining.
And so it was into the penalty shootout. Rovers scored their first five, with Joel Senior, Hutchinson, McCormick, Ruel Sotiriou and Connor Taylor all successful. Tottenham did likewise, through Moore, Tyrese Hall, Jaden Williams, Dante Cassanova and George Abbott.
Rovers’ sixth penalty, taken by Jake Garrett, was saved by Luca Gunter and Oliver Irow stepped up to win it for Tottenham with their sixth spot kick.
THEY SAID WHAT?
‘It was a strange evening, really. I was pleased with the start when we got ahead and looked comfortable in the game. Then, I have to be honest, in terms of what I saw from 15 minutes onwards to half time I didn’t really like what I saw.
‘The second half was more like what I want a Bristol Rovers team to look like. we were just more aggressive with our game. It made it a more exciting and open game. We still made some poor decisions but that was kind of what I expected the game to look like all the way through.’ (Rovers manager Matt Taylor)
‘In the first half Tottenham were good on the ball and it took usa while to get our press right. It was a decent game, but perhaps we should have taken more of the chances we created.
‘However, many of us are new to the club and we are still finding out how everybody plays, though I do feel we should have won the game.
‘On the positive side, we scored three goals at home, and on a personal level I hit the post. I’m still searching for my first goal for the club and when it arrives I’m sure it will give me more confidence.’ (Rovers striker Ruel Sotiriou)
