BRISTOL, England (Interstat) — Ellis Harrison scored three goals and Shaqai Forde added another as Bristol Rovers opened the League Two season with a 4-0 victory over Cheltenham Town on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Harrison, a forward, struck in the second minute, then added goals in first-half stoppage time and the 56th minute for the hat trick. Forde, also a forward, capped the scoring in the 87th minute. The performance marked a dominant start for Bristol Rovers, which finished last season outside the playoff places but showed renewed attacking vigor against a Cheltenham side that struggled to create chances.

The match began with an early outburst. Harrison collected a pass from midfielder Richard Smallwood and slotted home inside two minutes, giving the home side a lead they never surrendered. Cheltenham attempted to respond, but their possession failed to produce any clear shots on goal. The visitors’ discipline frayed as Smallwood received a yellow card in the sixth minute for a late challenge.

Defender Kofi Balmer was booked in the 32nd minute for a tactical foul, but that did little to slow Bristol Rovers’ momentum. In first-half stoppage time, Balmer set up Harrison’s second goal with an assist, sending a cross from the right flank that Harrison headed past the Cheltenham goalkeeper. The strike came in the third minute of added time, sending Bristol Rovers into the interval with a two-goal cushion.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Midfielder Jack Sparkes earned a yellow card in the 55th minute for a sliding tackle, but that did not deter him from contributing in attack. One minute after his booking, Sparkes delivered a corner that Harrison rose to meet for his third goal, completing his hat trick and effectively sealing the result.

Cheltenham’s frustrations mounted. Substitute James Wilson, who entered the match in the second half, was cautioned in the 71st minute for a late tackle. In the same minute, Cheltenham midfielder Tommy Leigh also received a yellow card for a similar infraction. The bookings did not spark any revival. Bristol Rovers continued to control midfield, with Sparkes and Smallwood dictating the tempo.

The final goal arrived in the 87th minute. Defender Tom Lockyer provided an assist, playing a through ball that Forde ran onto and finished with a low shot to the far post. Lockyer later saw yellow in stoppage time, booked in the 91st minute for a delay-of-game infraction.

The result gave Bristol Rovers a 1-0 record in League Two competition and across all competitions. Cheltenham Town fell to 0-1 in the league and overall. The match was the season opener for both sides in the fourth-tier English league.

Bristol Rovers’ attacking depth was on display despite the absence of a few injured players. Harrison, who scored 12 league goals last season, matched that figure in a single afternoon. Forde, an offseason acquisition, provided pace and finishing ability on the wing. The midfield quartet of Smallwood, Sparkes, Tommy Leigh and Jack Sparkes — the latter two played different roles — combined for two assists and controlled possession. Defensively, Balmer and Lockyer anchored a back line that kept a clean sheet, with goalkeeper James Belshaw rarely tested.

Cheltenham, meanwhile, will need to address defensive organization and offensive creativity after managing zero shots on target. The Robins, who finished 16th in League Two last season, struggled to break through a compact Bristol Rovers defense. Manager Wade Elliott likely will look to adjust the midfield shape before the next match.

The match drew a crowd of about 8,500 at Memorial Stadium, a venue known for its intimate atmosphere and loud home support. The stands roared after each Harrison goal and again when Forde added the fourth.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Bristol Rovers 1, Cheltenham Town 1, but Interstat’s ELO system had given Bristol Rovers a 69.90 percent probability to win. The final outcome far exceeded the projection, as a hat trick from Harrison turned a predicted draw into a lopsided victory.