Full-time: Bristol Rovers 2, Stockport County 0

First-half goals from Byron Anthony and Rickie Lambert earned Bristol Rovers victory over Stockport County at the Memorial Stadium.

Anthony forced home his second goal of the season in the fourth minute to reward the Pirates for a positive start with an early breakthrough.

And Lambert took his goals tally to the season for 25 after 37 minutes when he fired home from the penalty spot.

Rovers made two changes to the side that had started the 1-0 home defeat by Peterborough a week earlier as coach Paul Trollope opted for an attacking approach by playing three up front.

David Pipe missed out because of illness and Craig Disley reverted to the bench as Jo Kuffour joined Lambert and Darryl Duffy up front, with skipper Stuart Campbell returning to midfield.

And it was the captain who helped to set up the Pirates’ early breakthrough with a free kick towards the far post. It was nodded down superbly by Steve Elliott and Anthony had a simple task in converting from close range.

Rovers threatened to add more as Kuffour shot just over the top. Then Stockport’s on-loan keeper Conrad Logan almost made a hash of a Lambert shot from 20 yards but was lucky to get just enough on the ball to deflect it around the post.

Stockport created little of real note, although Aaron Lescott had to get in an important tackle to steer the ball away from striker Oli Johnson on the half-hour.

But Rovers increased their lead when James Tunnicliffe handled inside his own box and Lambert crashed home the resulting spot kick to the keeper’s left. Conrad went the right way but was unable to get a touch.

Rovers made a change for the second half with Disley replacing Hughes and the home side almost grabbed a third goal after 48 minutes, but Conrad just managed to scramble Kuffour’s shot on the turn around the post.

Then, 11 minutes later, Duffy’s cross from the right of the box flew across the Stockport goal with Kuffour crowded out by two defenders as he tried to get the final touch.

Stockport had plenty of possession but still struggled to create a decent opening until the 71st minute when substitute Josh Thompson nodded wide following a spell of head tennis in the Rovers box after a corner.

But moments later Lambert went close again with a rasping 25-yarder which wasn’t far off target.

The top scorer was replaced by youngster Ben Hunt with 15 minutes left and the teenage striker had a header from a Campbell corner cleared off the line.

Then Duffy wasn’t far away from getting his name on the scoresheet when a flighted chip from 25 yards drifted wide.

The game petered out over the closing stages but the Pirates' eighth home triumph of the campaign lifted them to 12th place in League One.

Stockport boss Jim Gannon refused to shake hands with Trollope at the final whistle, pointedly blanking the Pirates' coach as the teams left the field.

Bristol Rovers (4-3-3): Phillips; Lescott, Anthony, Elliott, Jacobson; Campbell, Lines, Hughes (Disley 46); Kuffour, Lambert (Hunt 75), Duffy. Subs (not used): Hinton, Rigg, St Louis-Hamilton.

Stockport County (4-4-2): Logan; McSweeney (Pilkington 79), McNeil, Tunnicliffe (Turbull, 46), Rowe; Raynes, Tansey, Blizzard, Mainwaring (Thompson 61); O’Grady, Johnson. Subs (not used): Ennis, Halls.

Referee: Clive Penton (Sussex).

Attendance: 6,214.