FOUR fine goals in bright May sunshine at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday sent fans away happy as the curtain came down on a League One campaign which saw Rovers achieve a final 11th spot.
One – inevitably – came from striker Rickie Lambert who ended as joint top scorer with Swindon’s Simon Cox in the division with 29 goals apiece.
Rovers struck twice in quick succession at the start of each half. Hartlepool staged a come-back of sorts in the first but in the second seemed often to lack willingness or enthusiasm other than to play out time but even then they scorned several good chances.
Rovers at times played exhibition football which bemused the United defence, leaving caretaker boss Chris Turner to lament “comedy goals”, though that did not reflect some neat and intricate build-up.
Jo Kuffour tucked away the opener on three minutes after Danish goalkeeper Jan Budtz had palmed away a Lambert shot. Charlie Reece, making his first start, had a part in the right-wing move which set up the opening, and the 20-year-old went on to have an impressive game, which won him the vice-presidents’ club man-of-the-match award.
Within 60 seconds Rovers had scored again, Darryl Duffy cutting in from the left to drive across Budtz. The home side continued to create chances, Budtz notably saving well from Kuffour before Daniel Nardiello first struck the bar, then had a shot saved by Steve Phillips before hammering home at his third attempt in a matter of seconds. Duffy then missed the target when he should have restored Rovers’ two-goal advantage.
Less than a minute after the restart Duffy turned provider with a cross from the left, Chris Lines stepped over, leaving Lambert to smack home from a few yards. Two minutes later a four-man move undid the Hartlepool defence again, Lambert setting up left-back Aaron Lescott to slot home from close range.
Twice Lambert went close to adding to the tally with free-kicks which were only marginally wide. Now it remains to be seen whether Rovers can hang on to their star striker, who is desperate to play in the Championship. Coach Paul Trollope says he is pivotal to the way Rovers do things.
Trollope described Rovers’ final goals total of 79 as “a fantastic return”, adding: “It maybe highlights a few deficiencies in other areas that could have meant a different story for the season.”
There are some who feel Rovers may have under-achieved this season but not Trollope. He said: “The commitment and spirit the players showed has been terrific all year. Very rarely have we been convincingly beaten. Very rarely have I seen a lack of desire or commitment. I think I can count both of those on one hand. That is something we can take forward.
“To finish 11th is a decent progression for us with ten more points than last year and it gives us something to build on.”
Rovers: Phillips; Pipe (Disley 59 mins), Anthony, Elliott, Lescott; Reece (Rigg 76 mins), Campbell, Lines, Duffy; Kuffour (Hunt 68 mins), Lambert. Subs not used: St Louis-Hamilton, Kite. Attendance: 7,363.
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