FIRST HALF REPORT
A spectacular 30 yard strike by Joe Jacobson, on 29 minutes, gave Rovers a half time lead in their friendly against Torquay United at Plainmoor
Rovers lined up in a familiar 4-4-2 formation, with Chris Lines playing wide on the right, while Sean Rigg lined up on the left in the absence of the injured Jeff Hughes.
Bright sunshine and a strong wind greeted the sides at Plainmoor and there was a scare for Rovers in the first minute when Tim Sills seized on a miscued clearance by Danny Coles, but screwed his shot well wide of the upright.
Immediately afterwards Chris Lines saw his free kick strike the home side's defensive wall and although the ball was partially cleared, it was played back in to Rigg who hit a shot wide of the target.
Both sides were passing the ball around well, though it wasn't until the 14th minute that we saw the next goal attempt. That came when Aaron Lescott squared the ball to Lines, who saw his 25 yard effort just clear the bar.
Former Rovers midfielder Wayne Carlisle hit a ferocious shot towards goal on 20 minutes and although the ball appeared to strike Joe Jacobson on the hand, referee Mr Woolmer waived away the home side's appeal for a spot kick.
At the other end Rigg sent a tame shot straight into the arms of goalkeeper Michael Poke. The keeper then came to his side's rescue when he rushed off his line to touch the ball off Craig Disley's head as the midfielder ran on to a delightful ball from Lambert.
After another Lines saw free kick struck the Torquay defensive wall and was deflected over the bar, Rovers took the lead from the ensuing corner kick.
Stuart Campbell's dead ball kick was cleared as far as Joe Jacobson, some thirty yards from goal and the defender took one touch before hitting a superb left foot volley past Poke to register his second goal of the week.
With Rovers well in command, chances for the home side were few and far between though when they did break Elliot Benyon rolled a shot just wide of the post and Nicky Wroe fired high over the bar.
Their best chance, though, came with five minutes of the half remaining when Benyon cut inside of Craig Hinton before hitting a shot which Steve Phillips, diving at full stretch to his left, managed to touch away from goal.
A minute later, the impressive Lambert threaded a ball through to Lescott and his cross to the far post found Rigg, who headed over with the goal at his mercy.
Rovers: Steve Phillips, Aaron Lescott, Joe Jacobson, Chris Lines, Craig Hinton, Danny Coles, Stuart Campbell, Craig Disley, Rickie Lambert, Sean Rigg
Substitutes: Tom Parrinello, Mike Green, David Pipe, Byron Anthony, Steve Elliott, Charlie Reece, Andy Williams, Josh Klein-Davies
Torquay: Michael Poke, Kevin Nicholson, Chris Todd, Lee Mansell, Tim Sills, Elliot Benton, Nicky Wroe, Tyrone Thompson, Chris Hargreaves, Wayne Carlisle, Lee Hodges
