Of Bristol Rovers’ nine League Two victories since the turn of the year, many have been won or at least sparked into life by a moment of individual quality and two flashes of brilliance were needed against Harrogate Town to set the Gas on course for another three points at the Mem.
The opening 20 minutes saw both teams struggle to adapt to the deceiving conditions as the sun was beaming in North Bristol but the wind playing a more significant factor. Harrogate spurned three good opportunities in promising areas early on given to them by some unconvincing attempts by the hosts to build their attacks from the back, but the Gas regrouped and stunned the Sulphurites with two delicious goals in the space of six minutes.
Aaron Collins continued his excellent scoring form picking out the top right corner from the edge of the area after being teed up by Nick Anderton and Elliot Anderson showcased why he’s nicknamed 'Billy Elliot' going on a mazy run beyond several Harrogate challenges before placing the ball past the on-rushing Mark Oxley.
Ten minutes after the interval, Collins added the gloss with a delightful chip after intercepting a wayward pass across the box from Rory McArdle, allowing Rovers to coast to victory, placing themselves level on points with the team making up the final playoff spot in Sutton United in seventh.
Here are a few moments you may have missed...
A youthful attendance
A fortnight on from the Mem selling out in Rovers’ draw with Exeter City where just over 8,500 Gasheads piled into BS7, the attendance was again brimming with eager fans hoping to watch another impressive home performance, but this time there seemed to be a slight difference regarding the average age of those in attendance.
From walking through the fan zone to viewing the stands in the press box, it was quite noticeable that a lot people below the age of 16 were present, with many seeming to be attending their first game.
Seated just behind the press box was a father explaining to his two young boys sat either side of him, when they needed to cheer and what they should shout as encouragement, with one of the little lads giving his best “come on the Gas” when the players emerged from the tunnel.
On top of this, a new feature before the action gets underway has seen the mascots for the game all get the opportunity to offer a score prediction and reveal their favourite player, and such is the growing popularity of the squad, each of the mascots all named a different player, with a 10-year-old even name-dropping Nick Anderton clearly someone is appreciative of the Herculean shifts he usually puts in.
There is an ongoing concern internally at the club that Rovers have an ageing fanbase with a need to attract the next generation sometimes difficult due to the Gas' position in the football pyramid, and the club have worked hard behind the scenes to improve the general matchday experience, bring new supporters and, most importantly, keep them.
However, as Saturday's fireworks showed coupled with the general good atmosphere at the Mem, the best way is with entertaining, three points and a team primed for success.
Barton calls for adventure
The Gas struggled to enjoy anything in the way of positive possession in the opening 25 minutes. Those normally reliable ball-players were off the mark with many of their touches and passes going astray and Rovers’ indecisiveness in their own half led to a lot of nervy moments defensively, underpinned by one particular moment that angered the boss.
With Rovers looking to build another attack from deep, Nick Anderton opened up his body when receiving a pass from Paul Coutts, immediately noticing that Elliot Anderson had peeled away from his man and was in acres of space on the touchline.
However, rather than attempting to navigate a pass up the pitch in the direction of the Newcastle loanee, Anderton turned back inside giving the ball to James Connolly with the possession eventually being given back to Harrogate. Upon seeing Anderton choose the safer option, Barton threw his arms to his side and turned away from the pitch in anger.
Anderton’s next role in an attack was far more joyous for the manager though with his subtle touch into the path of Aaron Collins perfectly weighted for him to bend into the far corner.
Elliot Anderson then showed exactly why Barton had been frustrated by Anderton choosing the safe option as, the following occasion when the Newcastle loanee received possession close to the touchline, the ball was in the back of the net 10 seconds later.
Barton’s message to the Thatchers End
On several occasions Joey Barton has labelled the Gasheads as the 12th man to help the Pirates drag victories over the line at the Mem, and during his walk over to the dugouts for the second half, the boss gave a subtle gesture to the Thatchers End to help his team secure the three points.
Barton placed both his hands behind his ears and followed that up by setting his hands out in front of him and lightly raising and lowering them repeatedly, essentially telling Gasheads to raise the noise levels inside the Mem.
Luckily, Rovers didn’t really the need the crowd behind them to push them over the line as Aaron Collins’ goal 10 minutes into the second half put a comfortable margin between themselves and Harrogate but it was a sign of the continuing and developing chemistry between the manager and the fanbase.
Collins’ golden chance
After enduring 18 games in all competitions without a goal, Aaron Collins cannot stop scoring at the moment in blue and white quarters adding another two to his impressive tally which now sits at 13 in all competitions.
However, it could have easily been a hat-trick for the Gas’ top scorer and a particular Rovers player let Collins know exactly what he should have done with his golden opportunity in the 64th minute.
Sam Finley further showcased his excellent range of passing picking out Collins who had peeled off the back of Rory McArdle. The moment looked set for Collins to complete his hat-trick with a thumping volley in front of the Thatchers End.
Collins instead though tried to bring the ball under control, but his touch was heavy and the ball ran into touch and it seemed Finley was perhaps more disappointed than Collins.
Knowing he’d been robbed of a sumptuous assist, Finley looked to the heavens in disbelief before quickly turning back in the direction of Collins and firmly letting him know he should have taken it first time, with Collins acknowledging his teammates grievance in reply.
Perhaps that was still on the forwards mind as the game approached its latter stages, as Collins found himself as the deepest man back in quarters after sprinting back to stop a counter attack for the visitors, heading Jack Diamond’s dangerous cross out for a corner.
A song fitting of the form
The long journey down from the press box at the very top of the East Stand to the depths of the West Stand to reach the press room sees reporters travel past the open windows in each dressing room and there was a particular track emanating from one that quite fittingly encapsulates Rovers’ surge up the table in 2022.
McFadden and Whitehead’s ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’ was booming through the creaks of the windows and it’s highly unlikely it would be the soundtrack playing in the dressing room of a team that just lost 3-0.
There is still plenty of work to go for the Gas, and as Barton put it, the next 10 games are all cup finals.
It hasn’t been completely plain-sailing though with defeats to Oldham and Newport sandwiched between the nine victories since the turn of the year and there will likely be a few more setbacks before 5pm on May 7 arrives, but the Gas have always responded to those blips.
And having now galloped up the League Two table and thus reached their highest position of the season following the win, there is no doubt that Rovers are the form horse heading into those all-important final furlongs of the season.
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