Rovers gave Hereford United an absolute battering this afternoon as they stormed to a 6-1 win at the Memorial Stadium.

Paul Trollope's side were on top throughout the contest, and other than a stoppage time consolation for the Bulls, it was a pretty perfect afternoon for the Pirates.

Rovers began the game on fire and scored their first goal of the game after just three minutes.

Jeff Hughes played Darryl Duffy through on goal, and the summer signing showed great composure as the goalkeeper narrowed the angle to slot the ball home.

Rickie Lambert doubled the margin four minutes later, the striker collecting the ball 25 yards from goal and curling home a stunning strike into the top right corner of the goal.

Lambert and Duffy exchanged passes before the latter rattled the post, and then Steve Phillips was called into action for the first time as he saved well from Toumani Diagouraga.

Duffy scored his second goal of the game midway through the first half, collecting a delightful cushioned ball from Lambert before unleashing a shot to send the ball past a helpless Craig Samson.

Robbie Threlfall, Richard Rose and Ben Smith all failed to seriously trouble Phillips with tame efforts on goal, while Lambert and Duffy both went close to making it four for Rovers.

Rovers played out the remainder of the first half in top form, passing the ball around with confidence and class to leave their Hereford counterparts chasing shadows.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first, with Rovers finding the back of the net within minutes of kick-off.

Duffy picked out Hughes in space, and the former Crystal Palace man drilled home a brilliant strike from the edge of the box to make it 4-0.

Hughes aimed over shortly after, before Lambert scored his second of the afternoon from a free-kick. The in-form front man curled the ball around the wall and into the right corner of the goal, beyond a diving Samson.

Samson saved well from Hughes and Lambert shot wide, before Rovers wrapped up their scoring for the afternoon on 88 minutes from another set-piece.

Chris Lines stepped up to take a free-kick on the left side, and his shot found the back of the net after striking the underside of the crossbar.

Stephen Guinan pulled one goal back for Hereford in stoppage time, but it made little difference to what was an overwhelming and comprehensive home win.

Rovers were superior in every department, and their clinical finishing and slick passing were ultimately too much for a shell-shocked Hereford side to contend with.

Reported by Ian Cole