Rovers dominated their Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie against Hereford tonight, but were unable to find the back of the net and went out of the competition after losing 4-2 in a penalty shootout.

Both sides made a lively start and Rovers retained possession and passed the ball around far better than at Wycombe on Saturday.

However they failed to trouble goalkeeper Adam Bartlett in the opening ten minutes and his only saves were made from a couple of decent Ben Swallow crosses from the left.

They should have taken the lead on 11 minutes though when Bartlett came quickly off his line to deny Darryl Duffy, saving with his legs.

A cross from David Pipe then just eluded Chris Lines as Rovers piled on the pressure.

When the home side hit back, Dave Jones headed over the bar from a corner and a Marc Pugh shot was deflected behind for another corner.

Jones headed over again as the home side searched for an opening, but Rovers went close again before the break.

Steve Elliott, up in support of his attack, fired a shot wide of the target and a Jeff Hughes free kick cannoned into the Hereford defensive wall.

Lee Morris went close to opening the Hereford account with four minutes of the half remaining, but Rhys Evans made an important save, touching the ball over the bar for a corner.

Aaron Lescott rifled a shot wide of the mark shortly after the break and from then on Rovers totally dominated proceedings, but couldn't find the back of the net.

Evans did save an angled header from Morris, but it was virtually one way traffic for the entire second half.

Chris Lines powered a header jus wide and the a cross from Pipe was touched o by Duffy but Blizzard, making a late run, just failed to apply he finishing toch.

Duffy, who worked hard all night without reward, went close again but his powerful shot was blocked by a packed home defence.

The striker then raced on to a Limes heard and his pace took him clear but with only goalkeeper Bartlett to beat, he rolled his shot just past the keeper and agonisingly wide of the target.

Substitute Charlie Reece then went close with a low drive that drifted wide of the upright, but the tie ended goalless and went straight into a penalty shootout.

Lines and Reece saw their spot kicks saved and although Duffy and Hughes were successful, Hereford converted all four of their penalties through Glen Southam, Jamie Tolley, Marc Pugh and Ryan Valentine

Bristol Rovers: Rhys Evans, Aaron Lescott, Carl Regan, Steve Elliott, Jeff Hughes, David Pipe, Chris Lines, Stuart Campbell, Ben Swallow (Charlie Reece, 77), Dominic Blizzard, Darryl Duffy

Substitutes: Danny Coles, Ben Hunt, Eliot Richards, Dan Cayford

Hereford United: Adam Bartlett, Richard Rose, Darren Dennehy (Keith Lowe, 89), Darren Jones, Ryan Valentine, Tristan Plummer (Glen Southam, 46), Kenny Lunt, Jamie Tolley, Marc Pugh, Marlon Jackson, Lee Morris (Matt Done, 76)

Substitutes: James McQuilkin, Chris Adamson

Referee: Mr D Sheldrake

Attendance: 970

Rovers fans: 330