Josh Ginnelly winner ends Bristol Rovers’ 14-match winless run

Posted Sunday, February 16, 2020 by PA

Josh Ginnelly ended Bristol Rovers’ 14-match winless run with an 84th-minute goal in a 2-1 win over 10-man Blackpool.

The substitute got the decisive touch to a Jonson Clarke-Harris shot from distance to wrong-foot goalkeeper Chris Maxwell and give manager Ben Garner his first win since taking charge in December.

David Dunn had to wait less than two minutes for his first goal as caretaker Blackpool boss, with Connor Ronan breaking down the right and crossing for Gary Madine to net with a fierce first-time shot from 12 yards.

But the visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 43rd minute when Ben Heneghan was shown a straight red card for a sliding challenge from behind on Clarke-Harris.

Rovers equalised in the 73rd minute with a breathtaking strike from centre-back Alfie Kilgour, whose wind-assisted shot from 35 yards arrowed into the top corner.

Josh Ginnelly then won it for Rovers late on.

The game was dominated by a strong wind and driving rain.

Matty Virtue missed two second-half chances for Blackpool and at the death substitute Nathan Delfouneso failed to beat Rovers keeper Jamal Blackman one-on-one.