Bristol Rovers scored twice in the second half to secure a 3-1 win over Aldershot Town in the Conference Premier this evening.
The home side were ahead less than 15 minutes into the tie when Jermaine Easter picked up the ball on the edge of the box before taking a touch and firing into the roof of the net.
The visitors pressed hard for an equaliser, but Jordan Roberts put his shot wide before Brett Williams drifted offside while looking to collect a through-ball.
Williams did manage to find the back of the net before the break though, smashing the ball in from the middle of the box after Rovers failed the clear from a free kick.
Mark McChrystal came close to restoring the home side's lead just before the break after Chris Lines picked him out with a high ball forward, but he could not get the better of the keeper.
After a quiet start to the second half, Rovers regained the lead when Easter crossed the ball in for Andy Monkhouse with just under an hour played, leaving the veteran striker to slice it in low.
The hosts needed just two minutes to find a third as Lee Brown made a quick run down the wing before sending in the cross for Matty Taylor, who rifled it in from a tight angle.
Lines tried an ambitious shot to make it four with 15 minutes to play, but the midfielder's finish was watched all the way by Phil Smith.
Jim Stevenson and Antonio German both tried to get the visitors back into contention late on, but both saw their efforts go wide.
The result moves Rovers to the top of the table, although they have played a match more than Barnet in second, while Aldershot sit 18th.
Sian Cowper
