Bristol Rovers lost 3-1 to Crewe Alexandra at the Mornflake Stadium in Sky Bet League Two.
The Railwaymen got off to a fast start, scoring within a minute after Jack Lankester cut inside from the right and curled a left-footed strike into the bottom corner to break the deadlock.
The hosts then doubled their lead before half-time, with Lankester completing his brace from the penalty spot after Alfie Kilgour pulled Luke Offord to the floor at a corner.
The Pirates made four changes at the break and looked much brighter, but Crewe got a third against the run of play to gain a comfortable advantage. Josh March raced away on the counter and found Jordan Gibson, who slotted in with composure. In the final minute, Bobby Kamwa reduced the deficit with a stunning strike from inside Rovers' half, but it proved to be only a consolation.
The Gas made two changes to the team that beat Exeter City last weekend. Reiss Russell-Denny and Bobby Kamwa replaced Shaq Forde and Fabrizio Cavegn.
Rovers looked to get back to winning ways on the road, but fell behind within a minute. Lankester got onto Joel Tabiner and moved inside from the right before whipping a precise effort into the far corner.
The Pirates reacted almost immediately and went close to levelling. The ball fell to Ciarán Kelly in Crewe's box, but he smashed the bar. Lankester looked threatening all afternoon for the hosts, shooting just over with a free-kick before finding the back of the net from the penalty spot.
Kilgour was punished for dragging Offord to the floor, with Lankester sending Brad Young the wrong way to get his brace. Lankester then attempted to add an assist to his brace, sending Adrien Thibaut away, but Jack Sparkes put in a brilliant block.
Steve Evans made four half-time substitutions with Shaq Forde, Philip Sanayolu, Keenan Gough, and Ben Purrington replacing Jack Sparkes, Alfie Kilgour, Russell-Denny and Richie Smallwood.
The attacking switch put the Gas in the ascendancy. Kofi Balmer headed over, and Kamwa had a close-range strike blocked before Crewe netted against the run of play just past the hour mark. The hosts came forward on the counter through March, who broke down the right and found Gibson, with the winger finishing past Young.
Rovers then added Joe Quigley to the attacking mix, with the striker heading on target before Kamwa got one back for the Pirates in style in the final few seconds. He collected possession in the Gas' half and chipped a fantastic effort over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Ultimately, the Pirates fell to a 3-1 defeat on the road and will be looking to bounce back against Wycombe Wanderers in the Jersey Mike's Trophy before hosting Barnet in Sky Bet League Two next weekend.
Crewe Alexandra: Booth, Billington ©, Ure, Offord, Lankester (Thomas 62), March, White, Tabiner (Gibson 49), Stephenson, Lunt, Thibaut (McNeill 81)
Crewe subs not used: Lawlor, Dancey, Moore, Ewusi
Booked: March, Stephenson, Lunt, Thomas
Goals: Lankester (x2), Gibson
Bristol Rovers: Young, James, Sparkes (Purrington 46), Balmer, Kilgour © (Sanyalou 46), Mola, Russell-Denny (Forde 46), Kamwa, Kelly, Harrison (Quigley 74), Smallwood (Gough 46)
Rovers subs not used: Binns
Booked: James, Kelly, Gough, Mola
Goals: Kamwa
Referee: Matthew Russell
Attendance: 5964 (995 away)
