‘Fantastic’ - Andy Mangan’s assessment on Bristol Rovers’ thrashing of Whitby Town in the FA Cup

Bristol Rovers thrashed non-league outfit Whitby Town 7-2 at the Memorial Stadium in the FA Cup first-round.

Goals from John Marquis, Luke Thomas, Jevani Brown, Antony Evans, Harvey Vale, Aaron Collins and a second-half own goal, saw Andy Mangan’s side into second round.

15-year old Ollie Dewsbury made his professional debut for the Gas after impressing in midweek, by scoring in the FA Youth Cup at home to Cheltenham Town.

Mangan was full of praise for his team at full-time.

“The team spirit is fantastic, when people are going in sliding other players out, there were loads of positives and we move forward to Reading.”

Rovers opened the scoring after just five minutes, as Marquis couldn’t miss from six yards out, following a brilliant James Gibbons low cross.

“I think we could have scored more,” said Mangan.

“I’m always going to ask for more from the players, I think we can be better.”

The Gas went into the interval 4-1 up and certianly showed their class this afternoon.

“The greatest respect that you can give to a team that comes up and plays you from a lower level is to put as many as you can pass them,” said Mangan.

“The level of training that we have and the intensity that we train at, they can’t unfortunately, so it’s the right thing to do.”

With Rovers in the hat for the second round draw, Gasheads can start dreaming of who they could potentially face if they were to progress further.

“The FA Cup is a magical thing lets be honest.

“If you can go as far as you can and you can get a big team, then we will be delighted, as would everyone at the club.

“Imagine pulling out a team like Liverpool away, it would be incredible.”

Six different scorers for Mangan’s side tonight along with a second half own goal will fill fans with plenty of confidence heading into a busy fixture schedule this month.

“Sharing goals out is always really nice, I think John Marquis would have probably liked to have got all six, but sharing goals out is great.”

The Gas can’t become complacent as they have a big League One fixture away at Reading on Tuesday night.