Bristol Rovers 2
Clarkson(11), Broghammer (89)
Aldershot Town 2
Reid (18), Rodman (57)
David Clarkson and Fabian Broghammer scored their first goals for the club against Aldershot Town this afternoon.
However it wasn’t enough to give Rovers their first three point haul of the season, and they had to come from behind to earn just a point.
The goals they conceded were disappointing, the first one especially, as most people in the ground felt that play should have been stopped for a free kick after Jim Paterson was pushed to the ground as he made his way up the left flank.
After a tentative opening from both sides, the visitors almost took an early lead, but Craig Reid fired wide after intercepting a ball from Adam Virgo.
Rovers responded immediately and Matt Harrold curled a shot just over the bar before Mark McGhee’s side took the lead.
Virgo’s crossfield ball found Harrold and he headed the ball straight into the path of Clarkson who took one touch before firing a 20 yard shot past Jamie Young.
They held the lead for just seven minutes, though. Paterson made his way down the left flank and appeared to be pushed to the ground by Adam Mekki.
A long diagonal ball was launched into the Rovers area and Reid calmly slotted the ball past Sam Walker.
There were further first half chances for Rovers though as Tom Parkes headed wide from a corner, Clarkson volleyed another effort wide and Eliot Richards hit a shot over the bar,
Walker made a comfortable save from Ollie Lancashire as the half drew to a close, and Rivers started the second half brightly with Lee Brown hitting the woodwork twice in the space of a minute.
The first effort grazed the upright and rolled away to safety, the second effort struck the angle of bar and post before dropping behind for a goal kick.
After Reid had seen a header easily saved by walker the visitors took an unexpected lead when Alex Rodman picked up on a poor defensive header and volleyed a shot past Walker and into the corner of the net.
The goal served to fire Rovers up and they took the game to their opponents, and went close on a number of occasions.
Paterson saw a shot blocked by a packed defence, Harrold’s left foot drive prodced an outstanding save by Young and a shot from Richards was deflected over the bar by Bradley.
Young made another outstanding save, this time from Broghammer, though the German midfielder, on as a 68th minute substitute, had the last laugh as he equalised in the last minute.
A shot from Oliver Norburn struck Harrold and was deflected wide in to the path of Richards.
His low, driven cross was met by Broghammer at the back post and his deft touch gave Rovers the point they deserved.
Rovers: Sam Walker, Adam Virgo (Michael Smith, 62), Cian Bolger, Tom Parkes, Eliot Richards, Jim Paterson (Fabian Broghammer, 68), Wayne Brown (Oliver Norburn, 80) Matt Gill, Lee Brown, David Clarkson, Matt Harrold
Substitutes: Joe Anyinsah, Conor Gough, Jordan Goddard, Ollie Clarke
Yellow Cards: Parkes, Gill, Richards
Aldershot Town: Jamie Young, Ben Herd, Aaron Morris, Ollie Lancashire, Anthony Tonkin, Alex Rodman, Sonny Bradley, Troy Brown Josh Payne, 71), Adam Mekki, Craig Reid, Peter Vincenti (Michael Rankine, 75)
Substitutes: Guy Branston, Doug Bergqvist, Myles Anderson, Glenn Morris, Jordan Roberts
Yellow Card: Lancashire
Referee: Simon Hooper
Attendance: 5,117
Away Attendance: 266