Ferguson sets himself before firing in the opening goal

ROVERS ended their pre-season campaign with a convincing 4-0 victory over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds this evening.

First half goals from Barry Ferguson and Jonathan Stead were added to in the second half by Nils-Eric Johansson and Lorenzo Amoruso.

A healthy crowd saw the County Wicklow side take the game to Rovers in the opening exchanges, striker Eamon Zayed wasted a decent opening for the home side on ten minutes.

A minute later Rovers had their first site of goal, Javier De Pedro's pinpoint pass found Stead bearing down on goal, but the Rovers striker dragged his shot wide.

Rovers had Peter Enckelman and Lucas Neill to thank on 17 minutes when they should have gone a goal down. Enckelman made a superb fingertip save diving do his left to deny Robbie McGuinnes, it seemed almost certain that Zayed would tuck home the rebound, but Lucas Neill was on hand to clear the ball off the line.

Moments later Stephen Fox fired over from the edge of the area, then Colm James went closer when Enckelman had to parry his shot.

Rovers took control from then on, and took no time to take the lead. From a De Pedro corner, the ball is fed to Barry Ferguson on the edge of the box and twisted and turned before shifting the ball onto his left foot and curling in a superb shot in off the post .

On the stroke of half-time Rovers doubled their lead, De Pedro fed Jonathon Douglas on the left, and his centre was bundled home by Jonathan Stead.

Stead should have got a second in injury time in the first half, but after fine work by Michael Gray, Stead somehow shot wide with the goal at his mercy,

Manager Graeme Souness made changes at half-time, bringing Gresko and Gallagher on for Douglas and Yorke, but it didn't alter the pattern of the game as Rovers controlled the game.

Nils-Eric Johansson added a third on 56 minutes from a corner, it took the Swedish defender three attempts before he finally hooked the ball high into the back of the net.

De Pedro, Brett Emerton - on for Lucas Neill - and Paul Gallagher all had chances to increase the lead further before Lorenzo Amoruso found the back of the net following yet another scramble.

There was still time for Paul Gallagher to hit the cross bar with an impressive shot on the volley, and Dominic Matteo saw a header from a De Pedro corner cleared off the line.

Bray battled for a consolation goal, but Rovers held firm, and will go into the Premiership opener against West Brom in seven days in good heart.

BRAY: O'Connor, Tresson, Farrell, Lynch, Charles, Gifford, McGuinnes, Fox, Zayed, James, Ryan. Subs: Roche, Pasfield, Manley, O'Brien, Lawlor, Britton, McGrory, Flood, O'Reilly, Lawless, Henry, Long.

ROVERS: Enckelman (sub Yelldell 68 mins), Neill (sub Emerton 51 mins), Amoruso, Johansson, Gray, Douglas (sub Gresko 46 mins), Ferguson, Matteo, De Pedro, Yorke (sub Gallagher 46 mins), Stead (sub Flitcroft 57 mins). Subs: Dickov.

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