Rovers beaten by Bromley in Portugal pre-season friendly

Bristol Rovers 1-2 Bromley
Pre-season match, Estádio Municipal Bela Vista, Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Bristol Rovers fell to a first defeat of the 2024/25 pre-season programme, losing 2-1 to Bromley in Portugal.

The first game of Rovers’ week-long warm-up trip to the Algarve saw Bromley take a two-goal lead before the break. Sam Woods and Levi Amantchi got the goals from free kicks in an otherwise gas dominated 45 minutes with new signing Promise Omochere hitting the woodwork.

The heat played its part in the second half as tiring legs saw the game finish without significant incident, although Jerry Lawrence’s well-taken header in the 85th minute gave Matt Taylor’s side hope of a late comeback.

Played in beautiful sunny conditions in southern Portugal, the Sky Bet League Two side took an early lead from a set-play down the right. Goalkeeper Josh Griffiths came for the ball but was left in no man’s land as Bromley managed to carve an opening through Sam Woods after just three minutes.

A frantic start to the action saw Taylor Moore head home from a corner – an effort the centre-back will feel he should have done better – before Jevani Brown’s one-on-one effort was blocked.

Griffiths denied Bromley a second inside the opening ten minutes with a superb stop and another Rovers corner almost equalised. James Wilson forced a great save and Dan Ellison couldn’t keep up his chase under the woodwork.

Omochere worked hard up front for the Gas and almost reaped the rewards in the 22nd minute, only for his well-taken header to bounce off the crossbar.

With all Rovers’ chances, Bromley got their second goal of the game and doubled their lead after half an hour. It came from another set piece that braced the Rovers defense before it was struck at the back post by Levi Amantchi.

Scott Sinclair and Grant Ward entered the fray at half-time, as did Jed Ward, while further substitutions followed in Isaac Hutchinson, Luke Thomas and Clinton Mola.

Brown came close to reducing the deficit five minutes into the second half only for his free-kick to hit the wall as McCormick smashed home a low volley from inside the penalty area.

The Gas would get a deserved finish with five minutes to play in the Algarve as a routine short corner saw Thomas pick up the ball and slot into Lawrence who found the net with a fantastic header.

In the end, it wasn’t enough late in the game as Rovers suffered a first defeat of the pre-season schedule.