BRISTOL Rovers are planning more regular reserve-team games this season in a bid to ensure their fringe players maintain match fitness.

Since withdrawing from reserve league football in 2008 when they quit the Football Combination, the Pirates have organised occasional friendlies for their second string.

But they were infrequent last season and assistant boss Darren Patterson, who took charge of the reserves in their 1-0 win at Cheltenham Town's training ground yesterday, says it is important the squad players get regular football – although the club needs to strike a balancing act.

"It's important we play once a week or once a fortnight, but we also need seven fit players on the bench for the first-team and can't take any risks with the size of the squad we've got. It's about striking a happy medium," said Patterson.

"We have organised another game at Wycombe in a fortnight's time, which will be another good test for us.

"The reason why we have these games is to get match fitness – and for the first 30 minutes against Cheltenham we looked like we needed a game.

"But in the last 15 minutes of the first half we played better. I asked the players to keep that going and in the second half they showed much more tempo and enthusiasm.

"That's what we'll be looking for in the whole 90 minutes in the coming weeks."

Rovers' winner was scored by on-trial striker Ian Daly, a 20-year-old former Irish youth international who came up through the ranks at Manchester City and is with Greek Super League club Aris Thessaloniki.

The 6ft marksman fired a 20-yard free kick into the top corner with a left-footed strike 15 minutes from time. But that was the highlight of a display which did not suggest he would make an impact at League One level and the Pirates will not be following up their interest in the Dubliner.

They also gave an outing to Declan John, from Llanelli, at right-back, but the youngster was substituted at the interval.

Striker Darryl Duffy was the most experienced Rovers player involved and caught the eye, along with youngster Eliot Richards, playing in a wide role, who impressed throughout.

After a lacklustre opening, Rovers dominated as the game wore on.

Teenager Lamar Powell nodded just over the top and Richards headed against the crossbar in the closing stages.

Bristol Rovers: Green, John (Hoyle 46), Clough, Tillson, Cooper, Richards, Pell, Reece (Clarke 46), Swallow (Jefferies 51), Duffy (Powell 66), Daly. Subs (not used): McKenna, Booth, Butler.

● Former Rovers striker Jamie Cureton has signed a permanent contract with Exeter.

Cureton, who turns 35 on Saturday, has featured in both League One games to date, having joined the club on a non-contract basis on August 2.

Cureton was released by Norwich at the end of last season.