A LATE Tom Lockyer volley saw Gloucester City defeated in an absorbing friendly against Conference Premier outfit Bristol Rovers.
A crazy second half spell saw six goals in 18 minutes as both sides traded the lead at Whaddon Road, before Lockyer finished the scoring to seal a victory for the Gas.
Elliott Chamberlain's cheeky finish had put the Tigers ahead before Jamie White equalised in under a minute off the far post. Former Rovers player Charlie Griffin came back to haunt his former side with a finish from close range, but two memorable finishes by Tom Parkes and Stuart Sinclair put Rovers into the lead for the first time.
A powerful Matt Williams header equalised for City until Lockyer's volley made it four.
On a baking hot afternoon in Cheltenham, full-back Ryan Higgins proved the only real attacking outlet for either side during the opening half hour, shooting twice from range.
Ryan Brunt tested with a shot before a second attempt lifted over the bar after a brilliant swivel on the edge of the box forcing an excellent one handed save by ex-Rovers keeper Mike Green for City.
Tigers winger Matt Groves, who works for Bristol Rovers' community department, had Gloucester's best chance of the first half, a mazy run down the left and a shot that flashed across goal.
Andy Monkhouse should've placed the visitors ahead just before the break, heading a brilliant Higgins cross wide from close range.
The Tigers broke the deadlock through Chamberlain after a delicate throughball from Groves found the winger who slammed home.
The lead lasted less than a minute with Matt Taylor working his magic to find White who finishes off the inside of the far post.
Griffin re-affirmed the Tigers advantage poking home from close range with another assist for Matt Groves, followed by a stunning 25-yard volley by Tom Parkes to equalise for Rovers.
Less than a minute later Stuart Sinclair scored a freak goal from the left slicing a cross and fooling Green at the back post.
Williams equalised for the Tigers two minutes after; a bullet header burying home Jones' corner.
A relative period of quiet after that madness was stopped with Lockyer volleying home from the back post a Romauld Boco cross to restore Rovers' lead.
Tigers defender Williams came close to a second but Jones' corner was just too far out of reach to get any meaningful contact. Taylor had a chance to make it a fifth late on but headed wide to end an absorbing fixture.
Gloucester City:@ M. Green, M. Green (S. Avery 66), B. Jones, S. Hamilton, M. Williams, A. Connolly (T. Webb 59), L. Hogg (M. Richards 16), E. Chamberlain (S. Wilson 62), A. Mann (N. Jarvis 68), J. Hartson (C. Griffin 45), M. Groves Subs not used: W. Morford, H. Rivers
Bristol Rovers:@ K. Preston, R. Higgins, L. Brown, T. Lockyer, P. Mitchell, T. Parkes, R. Boco, J. Gosling, R. Brunt (M. Taylor 45), J. White, A. Monkhouse (S. Sinclair 45) Subs not used: E. Harrison, D. Greenslade, D.Thomas.
Attendance:@ 421.
