Bristol Rovers made an impressive start to their pre-season schedule with a 6-1 win at Melksham Town on Friday.
Three goals in either half provided plenty of entertainment for the Gasheads in attendance at the Oakfield Stadium as Joey Barton's side proved too strong for their dogged opposition.
Aaron Collins opened the scoring before academy graduates Jerry Lawrence and Harvey Greenslade hit the back of the net. New signing James Gibbons and Ryan Jones put Rovers five to the good before the hosts pulled one back from long range. Harvey Saunders rounded off the scoring late on.
It was a near-perfect start to pre-season for Barton, who had signed a new contract with the club earlier in the day that will keep him in BS7 until 2026.
Rovers head off to Portugal on Sunday as their preparations for the upcoming League One season gather pace. Friday's runout brought their first week of training to a close ahead of the new League One campaign, which starts with the visit of Forest Green Rovers to the Mem on July 30.
With the likes of James Belshaw, Harry Anderson, Nick Anderton and new signing Jordan Rossiter nursing knocks, there were plenty of chances for youngsters as Barton fielded two separate XIs against the Southern League South outfit.
Rovers eased their way into the contest but Collins soon started to cause problems with direct running at the heart of the defence. Last season’s top scorer was the first on the scoresheet this term, rounding off a well-worked move from the Gas 22 minutes in. Paul Coutts carried the ball infield and fed a pass for Lawrence to take on the half-turn. The teenager left a marker in his wake and fed possession to another academy product in Greenslade, who quickly found Collins and the Welshman finished clinically at the near post.
A second followed instantly, with Collins again at the fore. Rovers stole possession from the kick-off and the striker hared after a through ball only to be bundled over in the box. Lawrence seemed an unlikely candidate to take the penalty but he sent the keeper the wrong way to double the lead.
Rovers’ third arrived before half time with Greenslade capping an eye-catching performance with a fine goal. The 18-year-old was played in by Sam Finley and the young forward showed his striker’s instinct with a ruthless finish.
Barton fielded an entirely changed XI in the second half, bringing on the likes of Antony Evans, Alfie Kilgour and Josh Grant. It was the former who created the fourth goal, just two minutes after his introduction. Some fancy footwork from the playmaker – in action for the first time since penning a new three-year contract with the club – opened up a crease in the defence and he slid the ball into the path of new boy Gibbons, who finished smartly with his first touch.
Ryan Loft had a chance to make it five but he could not quite lift the ball over the onrushing keeper, but his namesake Jones did find the net soon after. With 20 minutes gone in the second half, Evans showed his class with a pinpoint through-ball and the winger cut inside before stroking it home.
Melksham did have some joy, scoring a consolation goal from long range. Sixteen-year-old first-year scholar Will Larvin’s pass was intercepted with Rovers committed upfield and Melksham's number eight lifted the ball over Jed Ward and into the net from 40 yards.
It was a moment to remember for the home fans, but it was a brief moment of respite as the Gas netted a sixth before the end. Sam Heal dropped a ball behind the defence and Saunders produced a fine finish with the angle narrowing, lobbing the keeper to complete the scoring as Rovers started pre-season in style.
Rovers first-half XI: Anssi Jaakkola; Luca Hoole, Jamie Egan, James Connolly, Trevor Clarke; Paul Coutts, Sam Finley, Jerry Lawrence; Lucas Vaughan, Aaron Collins, Harvey Greenslade.
Rovers second-half XI: Jed Ward; James Gibbons, Alfie Kilgour, Will Larvin, Sam Heal; Josh Grant, Antony Evans, Zain Westbrooke; Harvey Saunders, Ryan Loft, Ryan Jones.
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