Match ends, AFC Telford United 0, Bristol Rovers 1.
TelfordAFC Telford United0Bristol RoversBristol Rovers1
Ollie Clarke's third goal of the season was enough for Bristol Rovers to defeat bottom-placed Telford and move into the play-off places.
Clarke fired an arrowed shot from the edge of the penalty area past Freddy Hall into the bottom corner.
Rovers midfielder Andy Monkhouse received a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Ryan Higgins but the Pirates held on to take the points.
The win moves Darrell Clarke's side up to fourth while Telford remain bottom.
Meanwhile, Telford midfielder Jordan Deacey has returned on loan to Conference North side Bradford Park Avenue, from whom he joined the Bucks in the summer.
AFC Telford United manager Liam Watson told BBC Radio Shropshire:
"We didn't deserve to lose, it was a good performance from us and we worked really hard today.
"We more than held our own, and we just did not create enough chances to win the game outright. I could not have asked for more from the lads.
"After a long trip north in midweek and the amount of effort from the team to win that game, it was really pleasing to see that continue today.
"The referee got it right with the red card - but the drop ball incident, I have absolutely no idea what he was doing.
"Unless it is a new rule that has come in he shouldn't have given the ball back to the goalkeeper."
Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke told BBC Radio Bristol:
"I'm really pleased. It is a tough place to come. Torquay found that out. They got beat here and they beat Woking the other night.
"I've said it all along - it takes all different sorts of matches and to come away with three points, I'm absolutely over the moon.
"I thought the boys put their bodies on the line. They didn't play great but I'm not really interested to be honest, it was about the points today.
"Coming to a bottom of the table team, fighting for their lives, it is always going to be a difficult afternoon, but I thought the mentality of the players was very good."
Line-ups
Telford
Formation 4-4-2
- 25Hall
- 23Higgins
- 4ByrneSubstituted forCookeat 72'minutes
- 24Parry
- 16McDonald
- 11ClancyBooked at 66mins
- 6Grogan
- 20Poku
- 17PlattSubstituted forGrayat 31'minutes
- 18SmithSubstituted forHancockat 81'minutes
- 9FarrellBooked at 34mins
Substitutes
- 1Hedge
- 10Gray
- 12Cooke
- 14Hancock
- 21Todd
Bristol Rovers
Formation 5-3-2
- 25Puddy
- 4Lockyer
- 6Parkes
- 15TrotmanSubstituted forMcChrystalat 39'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 3Brown
- 11GoslingBooked at 90mins
- 7Mansell
- 8O Clarke
- 23MonkhouseBooked at 87mins
- 10TaylorBooked at 90mins
- 17HarrisonSubstituted forCunningtonat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 5McChrystal
- 14White
- 16Martin
- 27Cunnington
- 28Wilson
- Referee:
- Ryan Johnson
- Attendance:
- 2,860
Match Stats
Home TeamTelfordAway TeamBristol Rovers
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away3
- Corners
- Home0
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, AFC Telford United 0, Bristol Rovers 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Sean Cooke (AFC Telford United) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Attempt saved. Adam Cunnington (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Post update
Foul by Godfrey Poku (AFC Telford United).
Post update
Lee Mansell (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick.
Booking
Jake Gosling (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Jake Gosling (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Ryan Higgins (AFC Telford United) wins a free kick.
Post update
Attempt missed. Sean Cooke (AFC Telford United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left from a direct free kick.
Booking
Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Ryan Higgins (AFC Telford United) wins a free kick.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Sean Cooke (AFC Telford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Mark McChrystal (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Mark McChrystal (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Sean Cooke (AFC Telford United) wins a free kick.
Post update
Foul by Sean Cooke (AFC Telford United).
Post update
Jake Gosling (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick.
Dismissal
Andy Monkhouse (Bristol Rovers) is shown the red card for a bad foul.
