Rovers recorded their first away win of the season today, as Rickie Lambert's 53rd minute goal gave them victory at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

It was a thoroughly deserved win as Paul Trollpe's side were determined and organised and although Colchester enjoyed a great deal of posseswsion, they failed to trouble an impressive back line and created only one chance of note. That came in the first half, when Clive Platt's looping header was cleared off the line by Danny Coles.

Skipper Stuart Campbell, again playing in a withdrawn position in front of the back four, turned in a five star performancde, but was ably supported by his colleagues, who were delighted with their first three point haul on their travels..

Although Colchester enjoyed a great deal of early possession, they came up against a well organised and determined Rovers defence.

In fact, it was Rovers who created the first opening, but goalkeeper Dean Gerkin comfortably saved a 20 yard effort from Chris Lines.

There was a scare on 18 minutes when Clive Platt's close range header looped over Steve Phillips, but Danny Coles was covering and headed off the line.

A left foot shot from David Perkins caused no problems to Phillips, and as Rovers grew in confidence, they went close to taking the lead. Rickie Lambert, who set Aaron Lescott away down the left and took a return pass from the defender before shooting just over the bar from the edge of the area.

Rovers were unlucky not to take a lead into the half time break when Lines was on hand to meet a cross from David Pipe, but saw his powerful header touched on to the bar by Gerkin before being cleared.

The home keeper was in action again at the start of the second half when he produced an acrobatic save to deny Lambert.

However Rovers' leading marksman was not to be denied and, on 53 minutes, registered his ninth goal of the season when he powered a header past the hapless Gerkin from Stuart Campbell's corner.

At the other end Phillips saved comfortably from a weak header from Platt, while Lambert went close to adding a second goal. However his header just cleared the bar and landed on top of the net.

Rovers came under a little bit of pressure in the final twenty minutes, but the home side continually failed to make their possession count and were restricted to long range efforts in an attempt to pierce a determined rearguard.

Lambert glanced a heard just wide of the target whilst at the other end John White saw a shot blocked by Stuart Campbell and Mark Yeates fired a free kick over the bar.

The last chance of the game, in stoppage time, fell to Lambert but this time Gerkin held on to his low free kick. 

Bristol Rovers
Steve Phillips, David Pipe, Craig Hinton, Danny Coles, Aaron Lescott, Chris Lines, Stuart Campbell, Craig Disley, Jeff Hughes, Rickie Lambert, Darryl

Duffy (Ben Hunt, 81).

Substitutes (Not used): Joe Jacobson, Mike Green, Byron Anthony, Jo Kuffour
 

Colchester United:
Dean Gerkin, John White, Paul Reid, Matt Heath, Gary Borrowdale, Mark Yeates, David Perkins (Anthony Wordsworth, 67), Dean Hammond, Johnnie

Jackson, Kem Izzet (Steven Gillespie, 55), Clive Platt (Scott Vernon, 67).

Substitutes (Not used): Chris Coyne, Mark Cousins

Referee: Mr J Singh

Attendance: 4,811

Reported by Keith Brookman