Bristol Rovers fell to a 1-0 defeat to Stevenage in Sky Bet League One at The Memorial Stadium.
Jamie Reid netted the decisive goal in the first half, breaking free down the right side of the box and rounding Jed Ward to finish from close range.
The Gas came into the contest confident after a good point away to promotion hopefuls Wrexham two days prior but struggled to test Taye Ashby-Hammond in Boro’s net. Ruel Sotiriou’s strike across goal before the break was pushed wide, with the visitors having better opportunities to score again.
Reid tested Jed Ward again after his one-on-one effort was saved, with substitutes Scott Sinclair and Shaq Forde unable to change the Rovers’ fortunes despite late pressure from the Gas.
Iñigo Calderón named the same starting team that battled for a brilliant point away to promotion hopefuls Wrexham on Friday, with Sil Swinkels coming in for Clinton Mola on the bench.
Rovers started brightly down the right side of the pitch, with Jack Hunt looking to cause problems at every opportunity with his directing running and crosses into the box. The defender brought the ball down on the wing and played a pass inside to Romaine Sawyers, who slid it through to Ruel Sotiriou, but his drive from a tight angle was pushed wide by Taye Ashby-Hammond.
However, Boro gained the lead through Reid moments later. The forward raced onto Elliott's List's pass down the right side of the box and cleverly rounded Jed Ward before finishing into an empty net.
The visitors' goal came against the run of play, with the Gas enjoying most of the possession in a cagey contest. Kofi Shaw attempted to make things happen and sprayed the ball down the left to Luke Thomas, who got to the byline and flashed a cross to Hunt, but he headed off target from close range after a bursting run.
Harvey White then threatened to double Boro's lead after thumping the post with a direct free-kick before the Pirates were dealt a blow soon after. Sotiriou was forced off through injury just past the half-hour mark, with Isaac Hutchinson introduced.
A quiet end to the opening 45 minutes was then greeted by a fast one to the second period, with Jed Ward making a crucial save to deny Stevenage a second goal. Reid went searching for his brace after collecting List's pass inside the box, with his effort saved by the goalkeeper.
Charlie Goode should have done better with a first-time from White's corner before Kyle Edwards created a brilliant chance for himself. He latched onto Jordan Roberts' flick on the right and dribbled all the way to the edge of the area before firing wide.
The Pirates found it difficult to pressurise Stevenage's defence. As a result, Calderón made attacking alterations to try and switch the momentum in their favour. Sinclair and Forde replaced Matt Butcher and Taylor Moore, with the hosts starting to put their opponents under some threat. Sinclair got into the action immediately after a headed clearance dropped straight to his feet, but his tame effort was collected by Ashby-Hammond.
With little over 15 minutes remaining, Shaw rolled a free kick towards Thomas on the outskirts of the box, with the winger lifting his attempt well over. On the other side, Forde threatened with a direct drive down the right before lashing wide. Sinclair then had a free kick saved by the goalkeeper, with Rovers unable to create a clear opportunity to level.
Bristol Rovers: J. Ward, Moore (Sinclair 63), Wilson, Sotiriou (Hutchinson 31), Thomas, Sawyers, Taylor, O’Donkor, Butcher (Forde 63), Hunt, Shaw.
Subs not used: Hall, Swinkels, G. Ward, Lindsay.
Booked: Moore 45+2
Stevenage: Ashby-Hammond, James-Wildin, Piergianni, Forster-Caskey (White 38), Roberts, Goode, Freestone (Butler 81), List (Hanlan 67), Reid (Sweeney 82), Thompson, Edwards (Phillips 67)
Subs not used: Mitchell, Appere.
Goals: Reid 12
Booked: White 36, List 49, Thompson 53
Referee: Leigh Doughty
Attendance: 9192 (211 away)
