Football Bennett leads Rovers on a goal spree against Melksham
AKYLE Bennett hat-trick and Ellis Harrison brace, with a further strike from Tom Nichols, give Rovers an ideal pre-season curtain raiser with a 6-0 success against their Southern League Division One West opponents.
It was an intense start in the basking sunshine in Wiltshire and Rovers echoed the weather with a quickfire start that saw The Gas 3-0 up in 25 minutes.
Darrell Clarke named two teams for either half, with two of his four signings in Ed Upson and Sam Matthews starting in a midfield four.
Youngster Alfie Clarke slotted into the lacking left-back position, with a trialist starting up top for Rovers.
After going close in the opening seconds, Rovers took the lead in their next attack. The trailist had a shot deflected into the roof off the net with replays confirming that Bennett had the final touch.
The best chance for Melksham fell to Simon Gilbert who gave his best take on Benjamin Pavard’s glorious World Cup strike to force a top diving save from Adam Smith in the Rovers goal.
The same pattern of Rovers’ dominance followed with a second coming after 20 minutes through a deft Bennett chip over the onrushing Kent Kaupinen, after being played in by Matthews’ through ball.
A Nichols shot into the far corner made it three a couple of minutes later, after Bennett’s defence-splitting pass put the striker in an advance position to slot home.
Bennett added his third, the pick of the bunch, when he struck hard from inside the box to give Kaupinen no chance.
The second half saw other summer signings Gavin Reilly and Alex Rodman get some game-time.
The Gas continued where they left off from the first period, with the second half XI showing the non-League hosts no mercy as Chris Lines unleashed a 25-yard volley which forced the best out of the busy Melksham keeper.
It was soon five. Lines played in Harrison who neatly found the corner with a precise finish after 55 minutes.
The two linked up once more to make it 6-0 moments later, with the midfielder playing in Harrison, who looked offside, to slot into the near corner with the outside of the Welshman’s right boot.
Rovers (4-4-2):
First half: Smith; Leadbitter, Craig, Lockyer (c), A. Clarke; Bennett, Sercombe, Upson, Matthews; Nichols, Trailist.
Second half: Slocombe; Partington, Bailey, J. Clarke, Kelly; O. Clarke, Lines, Rodman, Mensah; Harrison, Reilly.
Attendance: 1,008.