Jakubiak scores winner as Pirates sink the Swans
ALEX Jakubiak could not have picked a better time to score a stunning individual wonder goal for Bristol Rovers.
The striker, on loan from Watford struck in the 89th minute to beat Swansea City U21s 2-1 at the Liberty Stadium and ensure his side advance into the third round of the Checkatrade Trophy.
Jakubiak came off the bench in the 74th minute and proved to be the match winner. He picked the ball up from 60 metres out, drove at the goal, dribbled past a couple of defenders before beating goalkeeper Steven Benda one-on-one. It was a thing of beauty,
Before that Jordan Garrick, who looked Swansea’s most dangerous player, scored the opening goal of the game in the 54th minute after neat interplay opened up the Rovers defence to play him in at the back post.
But just five minutes later Tony Craig, skippering the club for the first time, was awarded Rovers’ equaliser as he got his head to Ed Upson’s sumptuous cross to flick the ball on and in off a Swansea player. That set up a grand finale.
The big talking point from the first half was the non-penalty decision as Daniel Leadbitter was brought down seemingly inside the box after he beat his marker but referee Christopher Sarginson decided there was a touch but that it was outside the box, giving a free kick on the whitewash of the box.
The Gas were on top for the majority of the first 45 minutes with Stefan Payne, Kyle Bennett and Alex Rodman all having chances for the League One side.
Twice Payne but headers over the post from good crosses which deserved a better finish.
Rodman managed to get his header from a dangerous Daniel Leadbitter delivery on target but Swans goalkeeper Steven Brend pulled off a great close-range save to keep it scoreless at the break.
Swansea’s best chances came from a pair of mistakes from the Pirates. Firstly Michael Kelly failed to control a high ball and it fell to the lightening Jordan Garrick who sped away from the yellow-shirted Rovers defence before crossing towards the back post where City captain Cian Harries was waiting to fire home - fortunately for the Gas Jack Bonham was there to make another top quality block.
The second chance came from another long ball, this time with James Clarke struggling to deal with a kick out of the hands of keeper Brenda. Clarke tried to head the ball back to Bonham but got nothing like enough power on it, leaving his keeper stranded as Garrick raced onto the ball and tried to chip a shot up and over, but with the angle against him his effort cleared the crossbar.
Rovers got caught a little cold after the break and after a couple of let offs, with Kelly again making an error, were punished by Garrick.
But no one’s head dropped and the Gas attacked with vigour and in the 89th minute Darrell Clarke’s 74th minute substitute Jakubiak reminded everyone of his individual quality with a brilliantly timed winner to end the Gas’ losing run at five games and book a place in the third round of the Checkatrade Trophy, not to mention £20,000 in prize money.