The match-report as Bristol Rovers began their 2025 pre-season schedule with a friendly victory at Chippenham Town

Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter

21:29, 04 Jul 2025

Bristol Rovers take on Chippenham Town in their first pre-season friendly(Image: Bristol Live)

Bristol Rovers kicked off their 2025 pre-season schedule with a 2-1 friendly win away at National League South outfit Chippenham Town on Friday evening as goals from Ruel Sotiriou and Micah Anthony either side of half-time were enough for victory.

The game was the Pirates’ first since the return of club legend Darrell Clarke, who will take charge of Rovers for their upcoming League Two campaign.

Chippenham had decent opportunities to open the scoring as both their starting strikers came close before Ruel Sotiriou couldn’t beat the goalkeeper after breezing past a couple of defenders.

The Rovers striker, who scored six goals in League One last season, broke the deadlock a minute later as strike partner Promise Omochere showed excellent strength to beat his nearest man before squaring the ball for a straightforward tap-in.

Connor Taylor, Luke Thomas, Ollie Dewsbury and Alfie Kilgour all came close to adding to the Gas’ lead before poor play in the middle led to a chase between Ward and a Chippenham striker. The goalkeeper mistimed his kick, gifting Chippenham an empty net to bundle into for an equaliser just before half-time.

Rovers made six changes at half-time, having already made four alterations after the half-hour mark.

Ollie Dewsbury and Kofi Shaw came closest to scoring in a quiet opening to the second half before Micah Anthony rose highest to head home from a corner after the hour-mark to restore the Gas’ lead.

Anthony came closest to adding third late on after getting the ball past the Bluebirds’ goalkeeper but couldn’t get the right contact to bundle the ball over the line.

The Gas are now set to jet out to Spain for a warm-weather training camp before taking on League One side Stockport County in their next friendly contest on Saturday, July 12.

They will then face Bath City, Yeovil Town, Coventry City and Oxford United upon their return to England before kicking off the competitive season with a home game against Harrogate Town.

Bristol Rovers starting team and changes: Jed Ward (Brad Young 46’); Macaulay Southam-Hales (Joel Senior 30’), Alfie Kilgour (Taylor Moore 46’), Connor Taylor (Dan Ellison 46’), Jack Sparkes (Bryant Bilongo 46’); Shaq Forde (Kofi Shaw 46’), Josh McEachran (trialist 30’), Kamil Conteh (Isaac Hutchinson 46’), Luke Thomas (trialist 46’); Ruel Sotiriou (Micah Anthony 30’), Promise Omochere (Ollie Dewsbury 30’)