Bristol Rovers concluded their trip to southern Spain with a 3-2 defeat to Stockport County.
Despite a bright start, with Promise Omochere and Kofi Shaw forcing Ben Hinchliffe into smart reflex saves, the Hatters took the lead through Ollie Norwood, who whipped a free-kick past Luke Southwood off the post.
The Sky Bet League One outfit then doubled their lead through Lewis Florini before Rovers staged an impressive comeback.
Ollie Dewsbury displayed a calm head to roll his one-on-one strike past the goalkeeper, sending him the wrong way before turning into the assister for the leveller. The 17-year-old passed the ball across the box to Luke Thomas to finish from close range. However, Rovers could not hold onto a draw, with Che Gardner scoring the winner in the final moments.
The Gas were looking to make it back-to-back victories in pre-season after beating Chippenham Town 2-1 just over a week ago and went the closest early on in the sweltering heat.
Isaac Hutchinson raced down the left and turned onto his right foot before curling a wonderful cross towards Omochere, but Ben Hinchliffe flicked his header over before the flag went up for offside.
Omochere then turned provider moments later. Shaw won possession high up the pitch and threaded the ball down the right to the forward, who lifted a cross back into the middle towards the 18-year-old, but his volley was flicked out for a corner by the goalkeeper.
Omochere’s physical presence in the attack was causing the Hatters all sorts of problems. Southwood went long with a free-kick, and the forward knocked it into a dangerous area, with Alfie Kilgour flagged for offside.
The Pirates seemed to be in control of the contest and were defending their box well, with Connor Taylor providing several clearing headers before Darrell Clarke’s men fell behind against the run of play.
Conceding a free-kick on the edge of the box, veteran Norwood displayed his quality with a whipped right-footed strike off the post and into the net.
The Hatters gained momentum and twice went close to doubling their lead. Kyle Wootton first curled a strike just off target before Malik Mothersille almost marked his debut with a superb goal. The forward raced into the box but dragged his attempt wide.
Rovers looked to respond in the second half after making several changes, but Stockport doubled their lead. Norwood was the playmaker, chipping a ball across to Wootton, who nodded the ball across the area for Fiorini to convert from close range.
Macauley Southam-Hales appeared after the break against his former team. He surged down the right and latched onto the ball after a combination between Shaw and Dewsbury before blasting over.
Dewsbury was making promising runs forward and got one back for Rovers just past the hour mark. The Gas won the ball in an advanced position and Dewsbury went driving forward with possession before slotting his right-footed effort past the goalkeeper.
The Gas levelled soon after. Dewsbury turned provider and rolled a pass across to Thomas, who converted from close range. Shaq Forde then looked to complete the turnaround, cutting inside from the right before directing his attempt at the goalkeeper. Â Nevetherless, Stockport claimed the victory in the final moments through Gardner.
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Senior, Sparkes, Moore, Kilgour, Hutchinson, Omochere, Sotiriou, Taylor, Conteh, Shaw.
Subs: Young, Forde, Thomas, Ellison, Southam-Hales, Howley, Bilongo, Dewsbury:
Goals: Dewsbury, Thomas
Stockport County: Hinchliffe, Edun, Bate, Mothersille, Gardner, Pye, Connolly, Mingi, Wootton, Trialist, Norwood.
Subs: Wogan, Metcalfe, Trialist, Trialist, Diamond, Camps, Fiorini, Moxon, Andresson
Goals: Norwood, Fiorini, Garner
Booked: Garner
Referee: Cuadrado Garcia
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