Match ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Barnet 1.
Bristol RoversBristol Rovers2BarnetBarnet1
Debutant Angelo Balanta scored deep into injury-time to give Bristol Rovers a late win over leaders Barnet.
The substitute stooped to head the ball past new Barnet keeper Raphael Spiegel to put Rovers in the play-off zone.
Matty Taylor had put the Pirates ahead early on after being set up by Andy Monkhouse, but Luisma Villa equalised with a deflected 30-yard free-kick.
In between the goals, Barnet defender Sam Togwell dived to head Nathan Blissett's overhead kick off the line.
Taylor fired just over the bar early in the second half before Barnet's top scorer John Akinde came close, but Balanta's dramatic intervention meant that Villa's 10th goal of the season was just a consolation.
The result means that Barnet have now only won one of their last four games, but stretches Rovers' unbeaten league run to five matches.
And it made it a disappointing debut for Spiegel, who joined Barnet on loan from West Ham earlier in the day.
Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke told BBC Radio Bristol:
"The pleasing thing for me is that we're not getting carried away.
"Barnet are a very good side with a very good manager so it's nice to get three points off them.
"It's nice for Matty Taylor to get on the scoresheet again.
"If we can get him a bit more confident in front of goal, he'll be a hell of a player for us."
Line-ups
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Mildenhall
- 4Lockyer
- 5McChrystal
- 6Parkes
- 3Brown
- 23MonkhouseBooked at 51minsSubstituted forHarrisonat 70'minutes
- 24Sinclair
- 7Mansell
- 30Della Verde
- 10TaylorSubstituted forGoldbergat 81'minutes
- 27BlissettSubstituted forBalantaat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 8O Clarke
- 14Goldberg
- 15Trotman
- 17Harrison
- 29Balanta
Barnet
Formation 4-4-2
- 32Spiegel
- 2Yiadom
- 5N'Gala
- 6Stephens
- 3JohnsonBooked at 14minsSubstituted forVilheteat 29'minutes
- 11CookSubstituted forGambinat 85'minutes
- 14Togwell
- 8Weston
- 15Villa LopezSubstituted forMensahat 61'minutes
- 10MacDonald
- 9Akinde
Substitutes
- 4Saville
- 16Vilhete
- 18Gambin
- 28Hunt
- 31Mensah
- Referee:
- Nick Kinseley
- Attendance:
- 6,012
Match Stats
Home TeamBristol RoversAway TeamBarnet
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home0
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Barnet 1.
Goal!
Goal! Bristol Rovers 2, Barnet 1. Lyle Della Verde (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right to the bottom left corner.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers.
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Foul by John Akinde (Barnet).
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Mark McChrystal (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick.
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Foul by Stuart Sinclair (Bristol Rovers).
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Curtis Weston (Barnet) wins a free kick.
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Attempt missed. Lee Mansell (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Tom Lockyer with a cross.
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Foul by Bradley Goldberg (Bristol Rovers).
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Sam Togwell (Barnet) wins a free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Barnet. Luke Gambin replaces Lee Cook.
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Attempt missed. John Akinde (Barnet) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
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Foul by Charlie MacDonald (Barnet).
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Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Bradley Goldberg replaces Matty Taylor.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers.
Post update
Foul by Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers).
