Full-time: Hereford United 0, Bristol Rovers 0 (Hereford won 4-2 on penalties): Bristol Rovers were eliminated from the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at the first attempt for the third season in a row after squandering a string of chances at Edgar Street.

The Bulls progressed in the competition for the first time since returning to the Football League four seasons ago after winning a penalty shoot-out 4-2.

Neither side had been able to conjure up a goal in 90 minutes of play, although Bristol Rovers had enough opportunities to have won comfortably but repeatedly missed the target.

When it came to the shoot-out, Chris Lines saw the first spot-kick of the evening saved by Adam Bartlett and Charlie Reece struck a post, while Hereford found the net with all four of their attempts.

Rovers made three changes to the side that had started the weekend defeat at Wycombe and were forced to reshuffle their line-up because of illness and injury.

Danny Coles started on the bench and Byron Anthony was ruled out by a neck spasm, so Steve Elliott partnered Carl Regan in central defence.

Youngster Ben Swallow was handed his first start on the left wing and, with striker Jo Kuffour ruled out by the same virus that had sidelined Andy Williams, Duffy operated as a lone striker with Dominic Blizzard tucked in behind him.

Hereford had an early penalty claim waved away when on-loan Bristol City youngster Tristan Plummer tumbled inside the box, and Regan then made an important intervention to deny Jamie Tolley when he latched on to a ball over the top.

But it was Rovers who carved out the first clear opening in the 12th minute when Blizzard put Duffy through on goal, only for Bartlett to block the striker's shot from 14 yards with his legs.

Shortly afterwards, the Pirates went close again when Lines was only inches away from connecting with a David Pipe cross as it flew across goal.

Elliott was not far away from putting the visitors in front just after the half-hour when he rose high 12 yards out to get in a powerful header from Stuart Campbell's cross, but his attempt went just wide of Bartlett's left-hand post.

Rovers glimpsed another opportunity five minutes before the interval when Tolley fouled Blizzard 20 yards out and picked up a yellow card for his trouble.

But Lines fired the resulting free kick against Hereford's defensive wall and then was unable to force his way through a massed rank of white shirts when he temporarily regained possession.

Moments later, Duffy burst through on goal again but was denied by a tremendous sliding tackle from Darren Dennehy before Hereford carved out a couple of decent opportunities just before the break.

Marc Pugh pulled a shot just wide after the ball broke to him on the edge of the visitors' box, then Rhys Evans had to push a rising shot from Lee Morris over the top after Pugh had caught Aaron Lescott dwelling on the ball.

Pugh threatened again soon after the break, but his angled shot hit Elliott and bounced to safety and the two sides then found chances at a premium over the next 20 minutes.

That almost changed when Lescott burst forward and fed Blizzard, who had made a run down the right channel, but his cross flew across goal with nobody there to get the final touch.

Rovers went close again in the 69th minute when Lines rose to meet a Campbell corner from the right, only for his header to bounce just wide of the target.

And seconds later, keeper Bartlett had another narrow escape when Rovers cut through United's defence and Pipe drilled a low angled shot inches wide of his right-hand upright.

Then Pipe went flying down the right wing and cut the ball back towards Duffy on the edge of the box. But again the Scot was out of luck as his shot was blocked by Richard Rose a few yards from goal.

With the prospect of penalties looming at the end of 90 minutes, it remained to be seen whether the Pirates would be left to rue the opportunities they had spurned.

Duffy sank to his knees in despair after seeing another good opening go to waste when he burst through but scuffed his left-foot attempt wide of the target.

Then substitute Charlie Reece – on for Swallow – tried his luck with a fierce shot which again flew the wrong side of the upright.

Hereford United (4-5-1): Bartlett, Valentine, Jones, Rose, Dennehy (Lowe 89), Plummer (Southam 46), Lunt, Tolley, Pugh, Morris (Done 76), Jackson..Subs (not used): McQuilkin, Adamson.

Bristol Rovers (4-5-1): Evans, Lescott, Regan, Elliott, Hughes, Pipe, Campbell, Lines, Swallow (Reece 78), Blizzard, Duffy. Subs (not used): Coles, Cayford, Hunt, Richards.

Attendance: 970.