The Memorial Stadium Saturday 3rd September 2022
Bristol Rovers 2
Loft (29), Thomas (80)
Morecambe 2
Weir (12), Phillips (53)
Referee: Dean Whitestone Attendance: 8,821
Two of the club’s deadline day signings were in the matchday squad for this game, namely central defender Bobby Thomas, on loan from Burnley, who started the match and Fulham loanee Sylvester Jasper who was on the bench.
The third of the trio of new arrivals, Middlesbrough’s Josh Coburn, will have a wait of a few weeks for his inclusion as he recovers from injury.
Aaron Collins almost gave Rovers the lead after only two minutes when his left foot shot hit the post and rebounded into play. For a while Rovers were in impressive form, taking the game to Morecambe at every opportunity.
However, with 12 minutes on the clock they were stunned as their visitors took the lead when Jensen Weir rifled in an unstoppable shot from just outside the area after Rovers defenders failed to pick him up at a short corner taken from out on the left.
It took a while for Joe Barton’s side to recover their composure but they gradually worked their way back into the game and equalised on 29 minutes. The creator was Collins, currently in the best form of his Rovers career.
When he crossed the ball in from the right, Ryan Loft was on hand to bundle the ball over the line from close range to register his third goal in a week.
There were no further goals in that opening period, though it ended as it had begun with Collins hitting the woodwork for the second time in the match.
Eight minutes into the second half Morecambe hit Rovers with a classic counter attack which led to their second goal. Caleb Watts picked out the run of Kieran Phillips and the Morecambe man went on to beat James Belshaw with a clinical finish.
There was little to choose between the sides after that, though substitute Trevor Clarke saw a well placed volley blocked by a packed Morecambe defence before Rovers conjured up a scrappy equaliser ten minutes from time.
When the ball was delivered in from the right, Morecambe’s defence failed to deal with the danger and Thomas was on hand to slam the ball into the net from close range to mark his debut with a goal.
It was a disappointing result for Barton and his side, who failed to take three points against one of the expected strugglers in League One for the second week running. The manager seems to still be experimenting with his lineup and personnel and it is to be hoped when all are fit that he will be able to play a settled side. For now, though, performances look to be a little disjointed.
Former Rovers keeper Adam Smith made a return to the Mem and was called on to replace the injured Connor Ripley in the 87th minute, while Rovers’ Lewis Gibson missed out on a family reunion through injury. His brother Liam was in the Morecambe side.
Bristol Rovers: Belshaw, Hoole, Kilgour (Jasper, 71), Thomas, Gordon (Anderson, 71), Coutts (Clarke, 71), Finley (McCormick, 62), Evans, Collins, Marquis (Saunders, 62), Loft.
Substitutes: Jaakkola, Whelan.
Morecambe: Ripley (Smith, 87), Love, Rawson, Bedeau, Gibson (Cooney, 82), Shaw, Fane, Taylor (Connolly, 75), Weir, Watts (Mayor, 82), Phillips.
Substitutes: McLoughlin, O’Connor, Rooney
ALSO
Former Rovers goalkeeper Adam Smith was in the Morecambe squad and made a late substitute appearance
Yellow cards were issued to Bobby Thomas and Luke McCormick
Debuts for Thomas and Sylvester Jasper
Thomas marked his debut with his first goal for the club
Ryan Loft’s goal was his third in successive games
Paul Coutts was skipper, Antony Evans took the armband when he was substituted
Five substitutes used
Nine added minutes
(Photos courtesy of JMP)
Keith Brookman