- Anthony (4), Lambert (37 pen)
- Date:2009-03-28
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:The Memorial Stadium
- Attendance:6214
- Referee:Penton, C
Live Commentary
90mins
The ref has blown his whistle for full time.
79mins
Stockport are replacing Leon McSweeney with Danny Pilkington.
75mins
Rickie Lambert is replaced by Ben Hunt.
61mins
Stockport are replacing Matty Mainwaring with Josh Thompson.
46mins
Jeff Hughes is replaced by Craig Disley.
46mins
Stockport are replacing James Tunnicliffe with Paul Turnbull.
46mins
The second half is under way with the score currently at 2 v 0.
45mins
The ref has blown his whistle for half time.
37mins
Rickie Lambert takes a penalty for Bristol Rovers and scores!.
24mins
Joe Jacobson is booked for unsporting behaviour.
4mins
Goal!! Byron Anthony scores for Bristol Rovers.
0mins
The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.
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Match Report
The season continues to slide away from Stockport County, a club in crisis both on and off the field.
With regular keeper Owain fon Williams called up by Wales and his deputy, Lloyd Rigby, injured they found a last-minute replacement in Leicester City's Conrad Logan.
He played 34 games for them last season and kept a clean sheet in around half of them. This time he was beaten twice in the first half and Stockport, who were fifth in the table at Christmas, before a cash crisis hit them hard, now have that sinking feeling.
None more so than defender James Tunnicliffe, who took the blame for both goals. He gave away a free-kick for the first goal and then stretched out an arm in the penalty box for the second. His game ended at half-time.
Logan, meanwhile, shook off his match-rustiness look with a brilliant dive to the foot of his right post, to keep out Jo Kuffour at the start of the half.
With a new 4-3-3 style, Rovers always looked the likely winners without finding the finishing power to ram their advantage home.
Their breakthrough goal, after just four minutes, was down to three of their defenders. Stuart Campbell swung in a long free-kick after Tunnicliffe's misjudged challenge and central defender Steve Elliott was waiting outside the far post to head it back across goal. His partner, Byron Anthony, provided the finishing volley.
Tunnicliffe pleaded accidental contact for the penalty and certainly Kuffour's cross-drive from the left of goal was going nowhere.
Equally certainly his arm had moved to touch the ball. Rickie Lambert duly thumped his season's 25th goal past the keeper's left shoulder.
Stockport were always neat in their approach play but persisted with just one man, Chris O'Grady, up front as they chased the game. The closest they came to scoring was a header from substitute Josh Thompson, a move set up by Matty McNeil.
Bristol Rovers Team
Stockport County Team
Bristol Rovers | Stockport County |
Corners
| 10 | 4 |
Fouls
| 10 | 11 |
Goal attempts
| 15 | 6 |
Shots off target
| 7 | 2 |
Offsides
| 1 | 2 |