Full-time: Bristol Rovers 2 Aldershot Town 1

Bristol Rovers proved there is life after Rickie Lambert as Darryl Duffy struck twice from the penalty spot to secure their place in the second round of the Carling Cup.

The Scot fired home a first-half opener after Chris Lines had been tripped, then added another at the second attempt 12 minutes after the break to set up victory over their League Two opponents.

It was the first time that Rovers have won a League Cup tie inside 90 minutes since their 2-1 victory at Brighton in 2004 – although they made life harder for themselves by conceding the third spot kick of the night just before the hour.

Big striker Marvin Morgan fired home, but there was to be no way back for a Shots side managed by former Pirates skipper Gary Waddock.

Following Lambert’s departure to Southampton and with loan keeper Fraser Forster unavailable, Rovers made three changes to the side that had started the 2-1 opening day defeat by Leyton Orient.

Rhys Evans made his debut between the posts, while Duffy partnered Jo Kuffour up front.

Central defender Danny Coles, who had started his first league game for 10 months at the weekend, began on the bench as Carl Regan moved alongside Byron Anthony in central defence.

And there was a recall for transfer-listed Sean Rigg, who made a rare start wide on the left with Jeff Hughes operating at left-back.

Aldershot made the early running and Evans was called into action in only the second minute, making a good low save to deny Scott Donnelly.

Three minutes later, Morgan drifted a header across the face of Rovers’ goal from a corner.

The Pirates glimpsed their first half-chance when Duffy tried to make a first-time connection with a cross from the right, only for Shots’ skipper Adam Hinshelwood to block his attempt.

The League Two outfit were not overawed and after 23 minutes, Ben Harding advanced from their midfield. With home players backing off, he fired his shot a couple of yards wide from edge of the box.

But Rovers started to find their touch and midway through the opening period, Kuffour broke strongly before feeding Hughes on the left.

The Shots’ defence were chasing back desperately, but Hughes’ cross was played beyond the onrushing Duffy and the opportunity was lost.

Kuffour fired a low shot from just outside the box straight at keeper Clark Masters after 34 minutes, and two minutes later the Pirates took the lead from the penalty spot.

Chris Lines was upended by Hinshelwood as he made a diagonal run across the visitors’ box, and Duffy converted with a firm spot kick to the keeper’s right.

The lead could have been extended two minutes before the break, but Masters did superbly to steer Regan’s close-range header against the bar after Rigg had supplied a useful cross from the flank.

Rovers threatened to take command early in the second half, but Duffy saw a low, angled shot saved at the foot of a post by Masters

Then Rigg nodded Pipe’s cross against the bar and Kuffour was hauled down from behind by Hinshelwood as he tried to latch on to the loose ball.

This time, Duffy saw his initial penalty attempt saved – but kept his head to tuck away the rebound as the ball ran loose.

The second goal ought to have been enough to make the game safe, but Rovers offered their opponents a lifeline after 59 minutes when Pipe inexplicably stuck up an arm to handle Louie Soares’ delivery from a corner.

Big striker Morgan struck his penalty into the centre of goal to score as Evans dived to his right.

Youngster Ben Swallow, on from the bench, livened up the closing stages and threatened to add a third but Masters was down well to parry his low shot from an angle.

Moments later, Swallow was charging down the left again – only to be denied by Masters once more as the keeper fingertipped his drive around a post.

And Evans earned his corn at the other end five minutes from time when he made an important save to his left to prevent Morgan stabbing home a leveller.

Swallow had the fans singing his name at the final whistle when he was barged over just outside the box, but picked himself up to unleash a 25-yard free kick which Masters had to claw away from the top corner in the final action of the night.

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Evans; Lescott, Regan, Anthony, Hughes; Pipe (Blizzard 64), Campbell, Lines, Rigg (Swallow 73); Duffy, Kuffour. Subs (not used): Coles, Clough, Reece, Hunt, Williams.

Aldershot (4-1-4-1): Masters; Chalmers, Blackburn, Hinshelwood, Sandell; Halls; Soares, Donnelly (Grant 63), Harding, Hudson (Hylton 63); Morgan. Subs (not used): Jaimez-Ruiz, Straker, Winfield.

Att: 3,644.