The player ratings as Bristol Rovers beat Barrow 2-1 at the Mem on Saturday afternoon
Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter
17:33, 13 Sep 2025
Dan Hargraves
Dan Hargraves is the Bristol Rovers reporter for Bristol Live. He joined the title in July 2023 having previously worked for Reach PLC as a freelance football writer in April 2022 while a journalism student at the University of Derby. He has also reported on a number of football matches across European competition, the Premier League and EFL and covered the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022. In his role as covering the Gas, he wants to leave no stone unturned and cover every angle of the football club for Gasheads' enjoyment.
Fabrizio Cavegn celebrates scoring his first League Two goal for Bristol Rovers against Barrow(Image: Steve Taylor/PPAUK)
Bristol Rovers extended their League Two winning run to four matches, the first time they've achieved the feat since March 2022, as first half goals from Josh McEachran and Fabrizio Cavegn were enough to seal a 2-1 victory at the Mem.
After a dominant start, it took Rovers less than 16 minutes to break the deadlock as Josh McEachran scored with what looked to be an attempted cross which found its way into the back of the net.
Barrow threatened an equaliser during a decent brief spell but any potential momentum being built was evaporated when Fabrizio Cavegn scored the Gas' second and his first League Two goal. After initially seeing a cross blocked, Jack Sparkes didn't give up on the opportunity, delivering a ball towards Promise Omochere at the back-post, whose header down was smashed into the net by the Swiss.
The Irish forward had a good opportunity to make it 3-0 before the break but fired an effort narrowly wide, just after Barrow came close to halving the deficit via a corner routine.
Rovers struggled to regain a similar strength of grip in the second half as Josh Goodman fired over the crossbar from close range before Connor Mahoney eventually halved the deficit for the visitors.
Mahoney then forced an outstanding save from Luke Southwood as Barrow pushed for an equaliser. A Jack Sparkes free-kick on target was the closest Rovers went to a third goal.
In the end, the Gas were able to hold onto the win. Here's how we rated the players on the day.
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Luke Southwood - 6.5
Didn't have a great deal to do until Barrow scored before the goalkeeper was forced into an excellent save to deny Connor Mahoney a second and an equaliser for the visitors. Some important punches in the end.
Joel Senior (off for Macauley Southam-Hales 90') - 6
Got up and down the right flank, replacing Southam-Hales in the line up. Made a few important clearances and blocks.
Kacper Lopata - 7
Made some crucial defensive headers in the first half before having a less commanding period in the second with a clumsy moment or two as Rovers lost their control on the game. In the end, made some vital interventions to help the Gas over the line.
Alfie Kilgour - 6.5
Has certainly had far more impactful performances this season over the course of 90 minutes, but was relied upon towards the end of the match as Barrow tried to get an equaliser, especially in the final minutes.
Jack Sparkes - 7.5
Played a key role in Bristol Rovers' second goal, putting the cross in for Promise Omochere, before making some important defensive interventions before forcing a good save from a free-kick.
Josh McEachran - 8
An absolute delight to watch. So technically gifted and produced some passes that made the crowd audibly pur. The goal was a cracker too - but did he mean it? Only McEachran himself can answer tha.
Kamil Conteh - 7
Did what he always does. Composed in the middle and constantly tried to get Rovers up and running in the final third. Perhaps quieter than last weekend, but that set an extremely high standard.
Alfie Chang (off for Joel Cotterill 67') - 7
Another tidy display on his home debut. Clearly a technically gifted footballer, but also an intelligent one. Looking forward to seeing more of the Birmingham City loanee.
Luke Thomas (off for Freddie Issaka 90') - 6.5
Some important interventions and looked sharp in the first half. Struggled to have the same sort of attacking impact in the second.
Promise Omochere - 8
The goal will come for the Irishman. Seems harsh that he hasn't been credited with the assist for Fabrizio Cavegn's goal after a smart header down. Outstanding once again in that left-sided role. Seemed to win every aerial duel once again and either created a chance or seemed to be at the end of it.
Fabrizio Cavegn (off for Ellis Harrison 67') - 8
The Swiss' first league goal has been coming and he finally got off the mark in League Two with a composed finish for Rovers' second. Was a constant nuisance for the Barrow defence and had a few sights of getting another that just got away from him. Should go on a nice run now.
Substitutes:
Ellis Harrison (on 67') - 6.5
As a striker, the hope would have been that Harrison could have contributed to the attacking output. Actually, he won some very important fouls for the Gas as they were struggling to reclaim the same levels of control on the game they had in the first half. They didn't single-handedly win the game for Rovers, but they certainly contributed.
Joel Cotterill (on 67') - 6
Had a chance to make it 3-1 but came on and had to defend for the mostpart instead of getting on the ball and demonstrating his qualities.
Macauley Southam-Hales (on 90') - N/A
Came on extremely late and still managed to get a yellow card.
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Freddie Issaka - N/A
Also came on extremely late.
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