Ben Thompson bags late brace as Bromley fight back to beat 10-man Bristol Rovers

Ben Thompson scored a late Bromley brace as Bristol Rovers boss Steve Evans’ first game at the Memorial Stadium ended in a 3-2 League Two defeat after they lost a two-goal lead and were reduced to 10 men.

Jack Sparkes capped a fine opening half for Rovers when the left-back collected a flighted Josh McEachran pass, for the 25-year-old to bypass Marcus Ifill and fire into the top corner after 34 minutes.

And their lead was doubled six minutes later when Fabrizio Cavegn collected a layoff from Kamil Conteh to drill the ball home at Grant Smith’s near post for his sixth goal of the league season.

But Bromley made two changes at the break to get back into the game and, with Shaq Forde sent off for a second yellow card after 53 minutes for lunging in on Ashley Charles, the tide turned.

Substitute Nicke Kabamba swept in a Deji Elerewe cross after 68 minutes before Thompson found space in the area – set up by Idris Odutayo – to fire in low, with nine minutes remaining.

The Ravens completed the turnaround as Mitch Pinnock drove low across goal for Thompson complete his brace in the second minute of stoppage-time to leave Evans pondering the size of his task in the Rovers hot seat.