Lewis Railton
The 7th of May saw the impossible become possible as Joey Barton’s Bristol Rovers overcame what was a 5 goal deficit in goals scored against Northampton Town to gain automatic promotion to League One. The now League One outfit lead by top scorer Aaron Collins was amongst the goal scorers as they won 7-0 to an already relegated Scunthorpe, who fielded a young and inexperienced team in a game that was only to be a consolation for their disastrous season. Sitting at the foot of the table without a win in 15 games, it was highly likely that promotion chasers Bristol Rovers would win the three points, but the prospect of scoring 7 in the concluding game of the season was laughed off by rivals.
In a game where the home team would take 34 shots as opposed to Scunthorpe’s 5, it was undoubtedly going to be one way traffic as Bristol Rovers took the lead within 18 minutes as Oliver Lobley turned it into his own net past 17 year old Owen Foster. An onslaught was sure to be on the cards as only 4 minutes later Connor Taylor headed home at the back stick in front of the motionless travelling Scunthorpe support. It would not be until the second half where Bristol Rovers would get their third and Aaron Collins would rifle home an inevitable goal on the edge of the 18 yard box, as he claimed his 15th goal in blue and white.
The 61st Minute saw Antony Evans add his name to the scoresheet in what was a moment to forget for the young Scunthorpe keeper, in what was his 2nd game for The Iron. A moment of excellence yet again from Evans set the Rovers faithful into frenzy in the North Stand as a free kick 25 yards from goal loops over the Scunthorpe wall, leaving Owen Foster with no chance. What was touted to merely be a pipe dream was truly on the cards with 14 minutes plus added time yet to play. Yet another moment of excellence from Anthony Evans took place as he threaded the ball through to marauding full back Harry Anderson who set up Aaron Collins for a brace. A header at the back post from Newcastle United loanee Elliot Anderson placed Bristol Rovers in the top three of League Two for the first time in the 46 game season, in which the home fans could not contain their excitement and spilled onto the pitch of the Memorial Stadium, meaning the game was temporarily suspended with 5 minutes plus added time yet to play.
Soon after the fans had made their way back to the seat, with some persuasion from former Premier League midfielder Joey Barton who pleaded with the Rovers faithful in order to resume the game. After enduring 25 minutes of added time as a result of the altercations on the pitch, Bristol Rovers had clinched promotion back to League One in the most dramatic and unexpected of games; sending them back up after their 24th placed finish the prior year which saw the Bristolian outfit relegated to the fourth tier.
On the other hand, Scunthorpe United say farewell to the Football League as they are relegated to the National League for the first time in 72 years, of which was confirmed earlier in their 3-0 defeat to Leyton Orient on the 15th April.
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