The hosts led at the interval through Mees Rijks and extended their advantage via Joe Quigley shortly before the hour mark, despite the Blues enjoying most of the possession.

Sol Gordon then created Harrison Bettoni’s 71st-minute goal before Chizaram Ezenwata drew us level in the closing stages.

Freddy Bernal had kept Chelsea in the contest with several important saves and denied Jack Sparkes during the shoot-out, before Justin Osagie scored the decisive spot-kick to help us secure two points and go top in Southern Group C.

Hosts establish advantage

Gordon had the first sight of goal after eight minutes, letting fly from the right side of the penalty area but sending his effort wide.

Bernal produced a couple of important early saves to keep the contest close, but Bristol Rovers opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Ryan de Havilland played the ball forward to Jack Aitchison, whose pass across goal was converted by Rijks.

Chelsea had an opportunity to respond soon afterwards when Gordon won possession from Sparkes and found Ezenwata, but the forward was unable to take the chance.

Harry Hudson made a double change in the 56th minute, introducing Lewi Richards and Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli in place of Calvin Diakite and Harrison McMahon.

Two minutes later, a cross the Blues were unable to clear reached Quigley at the far post and the striker finished to double the hosts’ advantage.

Late fightback

Chelsea, who saw Andrew Pennie replace Jashayde Greenwood shortly after the hour mark, reduced the deficit in the 71st minute. Gordon beat Sparkes and drove to the byline before cutting the ball back for Bettoni, who finished first time.

Bettoni found space again soon afterwards and went close to an equaliser.

That second goal arrived in the 82nd minute. Nicoll-Jazuli’s neat spin created the opening and Ezenwata found the corner to bring the Blues level.

Chelsea went in search of the winner and Pennie struck the side-netting in the second minute of stoppage time but the contest went to penalties.

Ezenwata and Bettoni converted spot-kicks to help the Blues go 2-1 ahead, after Bernal saved from Sparkes. Richards then scored to make it 3-2 in the shootout and when Richard Smallwood failed to convert, it left Osagie to calmly seal a 4-2 shoot-out victory.

What it means

Cobham Next Gen begin our EFL Trophy campaign with two points, earning one for the draw after 90 minutes and securing the bonus point through our shoot-out success.

What's next?

Cobham Next Gen return to Premier League 2 action with our first home match of the season against West Ham United Under-21s at Kingsmeadow on Monday 31 August. Kick-off is at 1pm.

Teams

Chelsea: 50. Freddy Bernal, 37. Olutayo Subuloye, 47. Harrison McMahon (32. Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli 56), 48. Justin Osagie, 52. Harrison Bettoni, 55. Sol Gordon, 58. Calvin Diakite (67. Lewi Richards 56), 62. Chizaram Ezenwata, 63. Jashayde Greenwood (77. Andrew Pennie 62), 69. Dante Waite, 87. Kiano Dyer
Unused subs: 56. Alfie Osborne, 60. Toby Bell, 79. Jacob Dako, 82. Josh Henry
Scorers: Bettoni 71, Ezenwata 82
Booked: Ezenwata 35, Osagie 89
Head coach: Harry Hudson

Bristol Rovers: 32. Charlie Binns, 3. Jack Sparkes, 8. Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny, 9. Joe Quigley (19. Ellis Harrison 68), 11. Jack Aitchison (27. Philip Sanyaolu 68), 17. Ciarán Kelly, 18. Mees Rijks, 21. Richard Smallwood, 23. Macauley Southam-Hales, 25. Ryan Howley, 33. Ryan de Havilland (30. Ollie Dewsbury 78)
Unused subs: 1. Brad Young, 14. Ben Purrington, 20. Promise Omochere, 22. Keenan Gough
Scorers: Rijks 22, Quigley 58
Booked: Quigley 63
Manager: Steve Evans