Gary Penrice’s 72nd minute strike put Bristol Rovers in the box seat after Gerry Francis’ side edged out Fulham in an entertaining Third Division play-off semi-final first leg at Twerton Park this afternoon.
This game was marked improvement on the turgid league meetings of the two sides just a fortnight ago, but Fulham manager Ray Lewington was left ruing his side’s failure to take their chances. Record scorer Gordon Davies might have fired the visitors into a second minute lead when he got on the end of a deflected effort from Glen Thomas but England under-21 goalkeeper Nigel Martyn foiled the Welsh veteran fabulously with his feet.
Martyn’s opposite number Jim Stannard then denied Devon White with by palming away the striker’s shot from seven yards that looked destined for the net in an enthralling end-to-end opening. Justin Skinner came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock from 20 yards after outstanding approach play from Davies and Peter Scott but the midfielder’s shot flew inches wide.
The hosts upped the ante after the break but White wasted two good chances in quick succession after a brilliant break from Phil Purnell. Rovers gained greater control the longer the second half went on, with the influential Ian Holloway pulling the strings in central midfield, and they broke the deadlock eighteen minutes from time. Stannard, challenged by White, let a Holloway cross slip out of his grasp and the loose ball fell kindly for Penrice, who swivelled to score the decisive goal from close range. Fulham’s protests that their goalkeeper had been impeded fell on deaf ears.
Davies had a chance to level matters with seven minutes remaining but was repelled by an another instinctive Martyn stop with his feet. Lewington’s side will need to rediscover their scoring touch at Craven Cottage in Thursday night’s second leg in order to overcome a resilient Rovers and reach the final.
BRISTOL ROVERS (4-4-2): Martyn; Alexander, Clark, Yates, Jones; Bailey (Mehew 63), Holloway, Reece, Purnell; White, Penrice. Subs (not used): McClean.
BOOKED: Holloway.
GOAL: Penrice (72).
FULHAM (4-4-2): Stannard; Mauge, Thomas, Rougvie, Eckhardt; Marshall, Scott, Skinner, Walker (Elkins 76); Davies, Cole. Subs (not used): Wilson.
REFEREE: John Martin (Alton).
ATTENDANCE: 9,029.
