Rovers were outplayed and thoroughly beaten by a slick Northampton Town outfit this afternoon in a largely one-sided contest at the Sixfields Stadium.

Two first half strikes for Andy Kirk, a Martin Smith effort just after half-time, and a late header from Predrag Bojic ensured the points, keeping the Pirates firmly positioned in the lower reaches of the League Two table.

Despite the thrashing that the scoreline accurately portrayed it was actually the visitors that started the match as the brighter of the two teams, and it needed some smart defending from the home side to deny Junior Agogo a clear header on goal, before Richard Walker was unlucky with an effort from the edge of the box that went wide.

Northampton created the first real opening of the contest as they gradually came into the game, and it needed Aaron Lescott to clear off his line after Ian Taylor's powerful low drive from a Smith pass.

Robbie Ryan was the next Rovers defender in the right place to save his side, as he somehow managed to deflect a header from Kirk over the crossbar.

Scott Shearer made a good stop as he got down well to beat out a Kirk drive, and then Lee Harper was called into action for the first time as he got down well at the feet of Agogo to deny the Rovers striker after a terrific through-ball from Michael Leary had cut open the Northampton defence.

The home side were handed a penalty on 34 minutes, after what looked to be a harsh decision by the referee against Steve Elliott. The Rovers defender was adjudged to have felled Kirk inside the box, and it was the same player who stepped up to send a low kick from 12 yards into the corner of the goal away to Shearer's right.

Shearer denied Northampton an almost instant second as he sprawled himself to save brilliantly from a close range Kirk shot, but there was nothing the Rovers goalkeeper could do moments later, as he was beaten for the second time in ten minutes.

Goal number two for the Cobblers came after a corner into the Rovers box was only half cleared by the visiting defence, and Josh Low's brave header back into the danger area was capitalised on by Kirk, who swivelled well before touching the ball past Shearer.

Rovers had calls for a penalty waved away in stoppage time at the end of the first half, as what looked like a push in the back of James Hunt was deemed to be a fair challenge by the referee.

The second half began positively for Rovers, with Elliott going close to bringing his side back into the game with a glancing header that crept just the wrong side of the upright.

But then things went form bad to worse for Paul Trollope's side, as another superb delivery from Low picked out Smith in space, and the Northampton man had the simplest of tasks in firing home unmarked from around six yards out.

Rovers rallied and pressed for a consolation with Agogo seeing a shot blocked, and then Leary's drive towards goal was well held by Harper.

Elliott went close with another chance as his drive from the edge of the box was six yards wide of the post, and then another quick break forward for Northampton saw Eoin Jess find Junior Mendes whose low effort on goal was just inches wide.

Harper made a terrific save to deny Agogo's low header from a delightful Walker cross, before Low came close to getting on the scoresheet against his former side as he volleyed just narrowly over.

Northampton wrapped up a convincing victory with time fast ticking out as a ball into the box was met by Bojic, and his looping header left Shearer with no chance as his effort sailed into the top right corner of the goal.

The win for Northampton was comfortable and emphatic, and although there have been far worse performances from Rovers in recent times which have produced results nowhere near as bad, it was the difference in cutting edge and quality between the two sides that was ultimately the major difference this afternoon.

NORTHAMPTON TOWN: Lee Harper, Jason Crowe, Luke Chambers, Chris Doig, Ian Taylor, Andy Kirk (Scott McGleish 63), Josh Low, Eoin Jess, Martin Smith (David Hunt 62), Pedj Bojic, Junior Mendes (David Rowson 79)

Unused Substitutes: David Galbraith, Michael Poke

BRISTOL ROVERS: Scott Shearer, Aaron Lescott, Craig Hinton, Steve Elliott, Robbie Ryan, Stuart Campbell, James Hunt, Michael Leary (Craig Disley 90), Chris Carruthers (Ali Gibb 50), Richard Walker (Lewis Haldane 82), Junior Agogo

Unused Substitutes: Christian Edwards, Jamie Forrrester

REFEREE: J Robinson

REPORTED BY: Ian Cole