Rovers Take The Honours In The Bristol Fans Derby

Written by Simon Phillips

Sunday 8th May at the Memorial Stadium was the setting for the third Bristol fans derby, pitting members of the Official Bristol Rovers fans forum managed by fans director Kim Stuckey against their counterparts from the official Bristol City fans forum managed by Bristol city chairman Steve Lansdown.
The main objective of the match was raising money for two worthwhile causes, namely the Babe, appeal and Frome Opportunities group.

Both sets of players went through the traditional pre-match warm ups and Bristol Rovers reserve Kier Underhill, took on the mantle of the Rovers mascot captain Gas.
Around 2 O’clock both teams took to the field as well as the officials Tony Monks and the guest Linesmen, Bristol City’s Scott Murray and Bristol Rovers Richard Walker.
The game kicked off at ten minutes past two and Bristol Rovers’ Dave Millar gave away an early free kick in the 1st minute, just inside the Rovers half. The resultant free-kick was floated into the box and Bristol City’s Brendon Mitchell had the first attempt at goal with a header that went well wide.
Rovers made there first noticeable attack around 5 minutes after Rovers’ Dave White played Steve Hoyle in down the inside left who scuffed his shot, resulting in a comfortable safe for City goalie and two time man of the match winner Richard Mackinnon.
Rovers started an early spell of pressure and in the 6th minute a Rovers corner was cleared but only to Centre-half Paul Richards who tried a shot from 40 yards that sailed over the bar. Two minutes later after some slick work down the Rovers left brought about a cross which fell to an unmarked Shane Bowden on the right who, screwed his effort high and just wide. Just a minute later a ball over the top to Dave White, brought out the advancing Mackinnon and White delicately lobbed the City goalie and put the ball in the net only for assistant Scott Murray to flag for an offside.

Quarter of an hour into the game saw some skills from Rovers ‘keeper Robin – Mark Schols who came out to make a clearance, and after trying to head clear lost the ball about 30 yards on the City left, but City couldn’t capitalise as Rovers’ Stuart Hicks managed to clear the ball. Rovers early pressure continued and around 20 minutes in, a hook forward from Dave Millar allowed the lively Chris Watkins to chip Mackinnon, but the flag was straight up again for an offside, although there was some confusion as Mr Murray, had kept following play. After consultation with referee Tony Monks the goal was disallowed.
In the 28th minute a Bristol City corner resulted in a shot that was cleared by Rovers’ Shane Bowden. City made the first rolling sub of the game on the half-hour with Jonathon Evans replacing Pete Rowe. Moments later City’s Mitchell hit a 25 yard shot just wide.
On the 37th minute a nice pass from Rovers Joshua Hart played in Chris Watkins to have his shot tipped round the post for a corner, which resulted in some artistic flagman ship from assistant Murray, who was clearly enjoying the banter from some vociferous Rovers fans.. The last notable action of the half game in the 41st minute when after a break down the left allowed Bristol Rovers Gareth Walbyoff to turn and shoot wide from 20 yards.

Half- Time: Bristol Rovers 0 Bristol City 0

Around 3 minutes in to the second half Bristol City had the first real effort at goal when a left-wing ball fell to the unmarked Jonathon Evans, but he blazed wide.
The first goal of the game was for Bristol Rovers in the 50th minute after a throw in down the left was hooked on by Aaron Watts towards the left hand edge of the City penalty area, but his poor clearance fell to Chris Watkins who curled into the empty net from 25 yards.
City almost responded immediately after a Paul Richards foul on City’s Jon Lansdown brought about a free kick which went to Richard Langley who fired wide. An hour into the game, a City move got them to the Rovers by-line, but the ball was cleared only for it to fall to a City player, who fired past the post from outside the box.

The game started to die down as players were beginning to tire, but on 75 minutes a city free-kick on the right led to some ping-pong in the box, but Rovers managed to clear, and Rovers managed to break and build a move which resulted in a left foot shot from 10 yards out on the inside right from the dangerous Chris Watkins which was well saved by Mackinnon at the expense of a corner.
In the 77th minute a swirling long range effort from City’s Jon Lansdown was spilled by Rovers goalie Robin Schols which squirted through his legs, but City’s Langley failed to capitalised and the ball was cleared.
Rovers were next to threaten when a ball from the right to the edge of the City area was not collected by Mackinnon and the ball fell to Rovers Aaron Watts who’s right footed effort hit a bobble in the goal mouth and hit the post, the ball was only cleared as far as Shane Bowden who’s long range effort was well off target.
City were hit by an injury after Chris Wilkinson was left writhing in Agony after closing down an Aaron Watts effort on the edge of the area. Wilkinson managed to hobble off and it has since been confirmed there was no serious injury other than bad bruising.

With the wind at their backs, Bristol City started piling more pressure in the final 5 or so minutes in search of an equaliser resulting in a number of corners. As full time was approaching a City corner fell to City’s excellent Brendon Mitchell who lost his marker to head the ball into the back of the net, to the joy of the City players and fans. The joy was to be short lived however as Rovers scored an injury time winner after Paul Richards played in Dave White to coolly slot home and secure the game.
The city players were gutted and not long after the restart the final whistle was blown leaving the City players dejected and Rovers in dream land after retaining the trophy they won at Ashton Gate last year.

Full Time Bristol Rovers 2 Bristol City 1

Once again the event was a resounding success, so far raising over £5,500 for the Babe appeal and Frome opportunities Group. Thank you to the organisers, the helpers and all the people who gave generously and came along to support such a wonderful event that will hopefully continue for years to come.


Bristol Rovers

Robin- Mark Schols, Stuart Hicks, Jordan Brain, Dave Millar, Ian Chappell ©, Shane Bowden, Aaron Watts, Steve Hoyle, Paul Richards, Chris Watkins, Joshua Hart, Dan Wright, David White, Gareth Walbyoff, Ade Redman, Simon Matthews. Reserves Carl Zalek and Kier Underhill
Manager: Kim Stuckey
Bristol City

Richard Mackinnon, Gregg Davies, Dexter Sneddon, Stuart Urch ©, Pete Smith, Chris Jay, Jon Lansdown, Brendon Mitchell, Rich Langley, Matt Tancock, Tom Ford, Pete Rowe, Jason Smart, Chris Wilkinson, Jonathon Evans, Huw Griffiths, Dan Martin
Manager: Steve Lansdown

Referee: Tony Monk Assistants: Richard Walker & Scott Murray

Attendance: Over 600