Bristol Rovers

Attendance: 2,860 (895)

Bristol Rovers secured a vital away win which returns them into the playoff places.

Ollie Clarke’s second half goal was enough to separate the teams in a game which saw Rovers reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Andy Monkhouse.

Darrell Clarke made one change to the side that won 1-7 against Dorchester Town bringing Will Puddy in for his third start for the club.

Puddy came in to replace an ill Steve Mildenhall who did travel with the team but whose condition worsened on the journey and didn’t play any part in the fixture.

Ellis Harrison retained his starting spot following his hat-trick against Dorchester and youngster Donovan Wilson took a spot among the substitutes.

Rovers started the brighter of the two sides with Jake Gosling creating an early chance following a poor back pass from Sean Clancy however Gosling fired well over the top of the crossbar.

Ellis Harrison tried to follow up his FA Cup hat-trick with another in league action but saw his overhead kick trickle into the arms of Freddy Hall in the Telford goal with 10 minutes played.

The return fixture at the Memorial Stadium was settled by a long-range effort from Ollie Clarke and it was Clarke who tried his luck from distance again but this time couldn’t test Hall.

Rod McDonald had a rare headed effort for Telford from a long throw that the Rovers back line dealt with comfortably.

Just before the break Rovers had potentially their best chance of the half, Andy Monkhouse squared the ball on the edge of the area but Ollie Clarke could only shoot straight at the keeper.

Telford started the second half well and Sam Smith stung the palms of Will Puddy early on. The Telford man raced away from Parkes but could only fire straight at Puddy.

However, it was Rovers that took the lead early on in the second half.

Good work down the Rovers right from Harrison allowed him to pick out Gosling on the edge of the Telford area who squared it to Ollie Clarke who tucked the ball nicely past Freddy Hall.

Jake Gosling won Rovers a free kick just outside the Telford box just past the hour mark, which caused a goalmouth scramble with no Rovers player able to turn the ball in and the ball was eventually scrambled away by Telford.

Moments later following a strong clearance from Tom Parkes the ball was bouncing nicely for Godfrey Poku to strike, however, the Telford

Telfrod threw everything at Rovers during the second period but crosses from Sean Cooke and Adam Farrell failed to find their mark.

With around five minutes to go Rovers were reduced to 10 men as Andy Monkhouse was accused of elbowing Ryan Higgins.

Telford continued to press and forced Rovers several fouls but Sean Cooke failed to hit the target with 2 of his efforts.

Cooke had a final blast at goal but the Telford substitute’s shot ended up in the crowd behind the goal as referee Ryan Johnson blew for full time.

Up next for Rovers is a trip to Merseyside to take on Tranmere in the FA Cup first round (Saturday 8th November) before entertaining Kidderminster at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday 15th November.

AFC Telfrod: Hall, Higgins, Clancy, Byrne (Cooke – 72) Parry, McDonald, Grogan, Poku, Platt (Gray – 31), Smith (Hancock – 82), Farrell.

Unused Substitutes: Hedge, Todd.

Rovers: Puddy, Lockyer, Trotman (McChrystal – 39), Parkes, Monkhouse, Clarke, Mansell, Brown, Gosling, Harrison (Cunnington – 72), Taylor.

Unused Substitutes: Martin, White, Wilson.