With the skies murky, the rain falling and the football disjointed, it did not feel like an afternoon that would provide a special moment. But almost 18 years on from his debut as a fresh-faced teenager, Scott Sinclair – perhaps the finest product from Bristol Rovers' academy in recent decades – scored his first goal in the blue and white quarters.
His opportunistic finish was enough to beat League Two Rochdale 1-0 at the Mem, and it will not rank highly in aesthetic terms in a career ladened with high-class goals in the upper echelons of English and Scottish football, but it clearly meant a lot for a player who owes his start in the game to the Gas.
The 33-year-old made his first start for the club since returning as a free agent last month. In a game played in tough conditions, quality was in short supply, but Sinclair was the best player on the pitch and he added a fitting chapter to his BS7 story.
