![\"Fabrizio](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1_Shrewsbury-Town-v-Bristol-Rovers-Sky-Bet-League-Two-Football-The-Croud-Meadow-Shrewsbury-UK-0.jpg\")
Fabrizio Cavegn of Bristol Rovers celebrates after the match(Image: Michael Zemanek\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\nA first win in 14 – as Steve Evans get his first win as head coach<\/p>\n
17:39, 01 Jan 2026Updated 17:41, 01 Jan 2026<\/p>\n
Fabrizio Cavegn of Bristol Rovers celebrates after the match(Image: Michael Zemanek\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
Bristol Rovers started 2026 with their first league win since September, thanks to a second-half hat-trick from Fabrizio Cavegn to beat Shrewsbury Town 3-0 at The Croud Meadow on New Year\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n
The result lifts the Gas above Michael Appleton\u2019s side, with Steve Evans registering his first win in charge of the club at the fourth attempt.<\/p>\n
After a pedestrian start to the first-half, Rovers thought they had a penalty in the 20th minute when Cavegn was fouled in the box after Alfie Kilgour had flicked on a long free-kick.<\/p>\n
The linesman\u2019s offside flag was up, though, and seconds later, Shrewsbury had the best chance of the half at the other end when Tommy McDermott threaded through former Rovers striker, John Marquis, who hit the outside of the left post.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_Shrewsbury-Town-v-Bristol-Rovers-Sky-Bet-League-Two-Football-The-Croud-Meadow-Shrewsbury-UK-0.jpg\")
(Image: Michael Zemanek\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
Evans\u2019 side dominated possession in the first-half, with 61% of the ball, but the final pass evaded them on a number of occasions. Just before the break, they had opportunities through Kacper Lopata and Jack Sparkes, with the latter\u2019s free-kick from 20 yards out just wide in the second minute of added time.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766557279_219_0_Crewe-Alexandra-v-Bristol-Rovers-Sky-Bet-League-Two-Football-Mornflake-Stadium-Crewe-UK-19-De.jpg\")
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It’s completely free and you can sign up HERE<\/a><\/p>\n Two minutes after the interval, Marquis had another chance to open the scoring, finding himself one-on-one with Luke Southwood again after Ismeal Kabia had threaded him through. The Shrews\u2019 number 27 was this time denied by Southwood, who made a crucial stop to deny Marquis\u2019 dinked effort.<\/p>\n Six minutes later, Shaq Forde nearly scored on his return to the starting lineup when he was released on the left-wing and forced a great save from Will Brook after trying to curl the ball into the bottom left corner.<\/p>\n Forde turned creator just after the hour mark, setting up Luke Thomas, who backheeled the ball to Cavegn, but the Swiss striker\u2019s effort hit the side-netting.<\/p>\n He wasn\u2019t to be denied twice, though, as in the 63rd minute, a long ball forward from Rovers was misjudged by the Shrewsbury defender, whose header towards Brook had too much on it, allowing the Swiss striker to race clear and tap into an empty net.<\/p>\n Shrewsbury piled on the pressure in the last 20 minutes, coming close through George Lloyd, but Cavegn put the game beyond the hosts when Forde beat the offside trap before laying it back to the 23-year-old, who took a touch inside the box and fired home.<\/p>\n There was time for Cavegn to score his hat-trick when Joel Senior drilled a low ball across the box in the 93rd minute, allowing the striker to score past Brook and complete a perfect afternoon for the Gas.<\/p>\n Next up for the Gas is a trip to Barrow in three days\u2019 time, while Shrewsbury are away at promotion contenders Salford City.<\/p>\n After the away match at Barrow, Rovers have a 13-day break until their next league game, when Colchester United visit The Mem. Before that, the Gas will look to book their place in the quarter-final of the Vertu Trophy, as they host Plymouth Argyle on 13th January.<\/p>\n Join Bristol Rovers Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol Rovers stories sent straight to your phone<\/strong><\/p>\n Bristol Rovers Live<\/a> is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.<\/p>\n Through the app, we\u2019ll send the Bristol Rovers news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.<\/p>\n To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select \u2018Join Community\u2019.<\/a><\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live<\/a> team.<\/p>\n We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose \u2018Exit group\u2019.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767298396_544_0_Shrewsbury-Town-v-Bristol-Rovers-Sky-Bet-League-Two-Football-The-Croud-Meadow-Shrewsbury-UK-0.jpg\")
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