Rickie Lambert slammed home a contender for Bristol Rovers' goal of the season to put the Pirates on the way to their most impressive win of the campaign so far.

Chris Lines doubled the home side's advantage before the break to put them in command against one of the promotion favourites.

And the Pirates then kept League One's top scorers at bay to secure back-to-back home wins for the first time this campaign and stretch their unbeaten run to six games after a fine display.

It was Lambert's 11th goal of the campaign – smashed home in spectacular style from 35 yards, that provided the highpoint of the evening.

The big marksman also had a hand in the second goal, rising to nod down a Stuart Campbell corner for Lines to claim his second goal of the campaign.

Rovers named the same side that had started the 1-1 weekend draw at Huddersfield after right-back David Pipe passed a pre-match fitness test.

But the Latics were soon on the offensive and Pipe had to make an important fifth-minute clearance to prevent Chris Taylor latching on to a good cross from Lee Hughes after the striker got to the bye-line.

At the other end, Lambert almost sent Jeff Hughes through with a delightful pass, but the visitors scrambled the ball away at the expense of a corner.

Lambert then set his own sights on goal when Rovers won a free-kick 25 yards out. He hit his shot well and low, but keeper Mark Crossley dived to divert it around his left-hand post.

That was simply to be a sighter for the amazing strike the Scouser was to conjure up three minutes later, however.

When Lambert picked the ball up 35 yards out, the Oldham defence made the fatal mistake of retreating, presumably expecting the striker to pass.

Instead, he unleashed a stunning right-foot strike which screamed into the net – and it will take some beating when it comes to picking the Pirates' goal of the season.

Though the visitors continued to look a threat on the break, the Pirates managed to contain them well before adding their second goal in the 34th minute – and typically it stemmed from a Campbell corner.

Lambert rose to head it down – taking a knock in the process – and Lines was ideally placed to net his second goal of the campaign from close range.

With Rovers now full of confidence, Craig Disley tried to get in on the goalscoring act but miscued his attempted volley from Jeff Hughes' angled ball into the box.

It was not surprising the visitors looked shell-shocked as they trooped off for the break, for they had not played badly but were facing an uphill battle to get back into the game.

They almost scored six minutes after the interval, however, and it needed a brilliant reaction save from Steve Phillips, who went low to his left, to prevent Reuben Hazell pulling a goal back.

Then Rovers survived a frantic goalmouth scramble as the Latics came desperately close to establishing a foothold.

Disley was looking for his second goal in as many games when he scampered after a through ball from Darryl Duffy on the hour, but Crossley was alert to the danger and came out quickly to smother.

Oldham still posed a threat and it needed a fine block from Byron Anthony to prevent substitute Lewis Alessandra getting a shot on goal, then central defensive partner Craig Hinton did his job to stop Danny Whitaker testing Phillips.

Another break by Jo Kuffour, this time down the right, produced a cross to Lambert, who set up Lines for a 20-yarder which just cleared the bar.

Rovers: Phillips, Pipe, Anthony, Hinton, Lescott, Campbell, Disley, Lines, Hughes (Jacobson, 73), Lambert, Duffy (Kuffour, 64). Subs not used: Hunt, Klein-Davies, M Green.

Oldham: Crossley, Lomax (Davies, 80), Hazell, Gregan, Jones, Smalley, Allott, Whitaker, Taylor, Ormerod (Alessandra, 66) Hughes 6. Not used: Eardley, Maher, Fleming.