Swindon Town manager Paul Sturrock made one enforced change to his starting line-up at The Memorial Stadium with Barry Corr (back) replaced by Lukas Jutkiewicz, who partnered Blair Sturrock in the front line. Jack Smith returned to the bench after a two-game suspension whilst Kevin James was also named amongst the replacements.

After a frantic start to the game which saw both sides trying to set the early pace, Andy Nicholas was booked on four minutes after bringing down Haldane on the left.

Paul Trollope's men could have opened the scoring inside ten minutes. After a lofted ball into the box, Craig Disley headed across the six-yard box for Rickie Lambert who lashed the ball narrowly wide of Smith's goal in front of the Bass Terrace. Richard Walker then saw a 20-yard lob drift over before Sturrock fired straight at Phillips at the other end.

The first Town corner arrived on 22 minutes in front of the away end but came top no avail after a long ball in from Roberts. A free-kick 25 yards out on 24 minutes gave Town a chance to strike with Roberts, Peacock and Zaaboub all potential candidates. Unfortunately a strike from the yellow booted Frenchman found the wall and Rovers were able to clear with ease.

It was Rovers who opened the scoring on 27 minutes. A long punt up field from Smith came straight back into the Town half with Lambert able to settle himself before hitting a spectacular 30-yarder which dipped under Smith's bar to put the home side a goal up.

In response Swindon went straight on the attack with Jerel Ifil seeing his strike hacked over his own bar by former Wolves defender Ryan Green. After successive corners, Ifil headed wide.

On the half-hour mark the home side came close again with Joe Jacobson's cross headed across the face of goal by Walker. Ryan Green then saw his low 20-yard drive tipped round by Phil Smith on 36 minutes.

With six minutes to go before the break, Craig Disley saw his back header well gathered by Smith in the Town goal with the home side still searching for a second.

Michael Pook was denied by Phillips on the stroke of half-time. After a cross in from the right by Westwood, Pook met the ball first time and hit a low shot from 12 yards which was well saved by the home stopper.

Half-Time: Bristol Rovers 1 Swindon Town 0

Town made no changes at the break and emerged for the second period eager to make an early impression on the game. The first Swindon corner of the new half arrived with Roberts' set-piece headed out wide by the Rovers defence. After another ball in from the left, Sturrock found space but headed straight at Phillips from six yards although the referee had already blown for a foul.

Phil Smith prevented a second for the home side on 53 minutes. A ball through the defence found Disley who had cut in from the left, but Smith was out quickly to smother the danger.

Paul Sturrock made his first switch of the game on 54 minutes with Michael Timlin replacing Blair Sturrock. Peacock moved up front alongside Jutkiewicz with Timlin now alongside Pook in the centre of the park. Shortly after there was a second switch - with loanee Ashley Grimes coming on for Lukas Jutkiewicz.

Town took their time to settle following the double change with Lee Peacock forcing Byron Anthony to head over his own bar from a Roberts cross. Sturrock's final change of the afternoon came on 71 minutes with Kevin James coming on for Kevin James. Roberts then switched to the left with the Nottingham Forest loanee taking up residence on the right.

Christian Roberts had a superb chance to level things on 76 minutes. Having collected the ball on the left hand side, the Welshman beat three players on a meandering run into the box. Having turned down the chance to shoot from eight yards, he lost the ball with just Phillips to beat.

Paul Trollope then replaced Lewis Haldane with former Swindon midfielder Sammy Igoe. Michael Pook then hit a left footer narrowly over from 25 yards before Joe Jacobson was replaced by Andy Sandell.

 Ricky Lambert tested Phil Smith with a rasping shot in the 80^th minute but the Town keeper caught the ball cleanly.

Town were struggling to get a clear shot on goal with the home side determined to hang onto their dream of getting into the Play Offs. Three minutes of added time were played but the Robins just could not find a way through so the match ended with the Rovers on top.

Results elsewhere mean that one point from next week's home game will guarantee promotion for Paul Sturrock's team but the 1604 Town fans present were left to rue what might have been today had it not been for one quality strike by Ricky Lambert.

Full-Time: Bristol Rovers 1 Swindon Town 0