Bristol Rovers secure consecutive pre-season victory at Salisbury FC, thanks to Mees Rijks winner

Bristol Rovers secured a consecutive pre-season win, with a 3-2 victory at Salisbury FC, thanks to goals from Fabrizio Cavegn, Ben Purrington and Mees Rijks. The visitors played two different elevens in each half, like Tuesday, and despite a first-half brace from Salisbury's Nathan Odokonyero, the Gas secured a deserved victory at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium. Rovers started in a 3-4-1-2, and it was Clinton Mola, who had the visitors' first chance. He played a one-two with Cavegn before dragging a left-footed shot well wide in the 10th minute. Five minutes later, the Gas opened the scoring through the Swiss striker. Purrington chipped a perfectly-weighted through ball to the 23-year-old, who steadied himself inside the box and fired into the bottom left corner. Just as Rovers were building some momentum and looking likely to extend their advantage, the Whites equalised against the run of play in the 22nd minute. Mo Dabre picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and threaded through Odokonyero, with the striker sliding a left-footed effort past Brad Young. The hosts were close to completing the turnaround seven minutes later, only for Young to deny Jaiden Bartolo. He beat Alfie Kilgour to a long ball, but was unable to find a way past the Rovers shot-stopper, who made an important stop with his feet. It didn’t take long for Rovers to regain their advantage, though, with a corner in the 33rd minute eventually scrambled home by Purrington on the line. Salisbury kept pushing forward, and the lively Odokonyero completed his brace just before the break, when he picked up the ball 20 yards out in the middle of the pitch before turning and driving a left-footed effort into the bottom right corner. Ryan Howley, who was energetic in the first 45, then came close to making it 3-2 in the fifth minute of added time, but ultimately saw his right-footed half volley drift wide of the left post. Three minutes into the second half, three substitutes combined with Tommy Leigh playing through Bobby Kamwa before he cut it back to Shaq Forde inside the box. Forde was denied twice on the line by Josh Sommerton, though, who injured himself in the process after colliding with the post. Rovers kept on pushing and went in front for the third time in the 52nd minute. Yet again, Leigh played an inch-perfect ball, this time to Jack Aitchison, with the latest summer signing finding Rijks, who tapped home into an empty net. The Dutch striker remained heavily involved, and a minute after his goal, he struck the right-hand post after combining with Ellis Harrison. Forde was also a threat and was denied by a one-handed save from Will Henry in the 63rd minute after receiving a short corner from Leigh. Brian Dutton's side always looked dangerous and came close to another leveller midway through the second half, when Josh Hedges' curled effort was headed off the line by Harrison. The visitors stood firm, though, and held on to secure a consecutive pre-season victory. Rovers have two home games against Leicester City and Portsmouth next week before away trips to Forest Green Rovers and Yate Town on August 21 and August 24, respectively. The Gas will then go away to St Andrews, Scotland, in a tour that begins on Wednesday, July 29, and ends on Monday, August 3. Rovers' first competitive match is a Carabao Cup first round tie against Peterborough United at The Mem on August 8. The League Two campaign begins a week later, with Evans' side away at York City on the opening day. First-half XI (3-4-1-2): Brad Young, Kofi Balmer, Alfie Kilgour, Ben Purrington, Macauley Southam-Hales, Clinton Mola, Richie Smallwood, Ryan Howley, Isaac Hutchinson, Fabrizio Cavegn, Joe Quigley (Promise Omochere 30'). Second-half XI (3-4-1-2): Luke Southwood, Tom James, Riley Harbottle, Ciarán Kelly, Mees Rijks (Ollie Dewsbury 70'), Bobby Kamwa, Ryan De Havilland, Tommy Leigh, Jack Aitchison, Shaq Forde, Ellis Harrison.