Rovers cruised to a comfortable victory over Bury at the Memorial Stadium this afternoon thanks to a Ricky Lambert double.

The former Rochdale striker scored a goal in each half to ensure a crucial three points for the Pirates, keeping the League Two play-off places just about within touching distance.

The visitors started brightly with John Fitzgerald striking the crossbar from a corner, and Dave Challinor firing the rebound straight at Steve Phillips.

William Mocquet then lost his composure as he blasted wide with a powerful volley following a miscued clearance, before Rovers took a hold of the game and began creating chance after chance at the other end.

Richard Walker went within inches of finding the back of the net as he touched the ball wide from a Stuart Campbell free-kick, and then Craig Disley would have been expected to do better as he glanced a header wide from a superb Walker delivery.

Lewis Haldane found Walker on the edge of the penalty area but a delicate lob from the front man crept just wide of the post, and then Campbell tried his luck with a volley that Bury goalkeeper Andy Warrington watched sail just past the upright.

Some sustained pressure from the home side eventually led to a breakthrough just past the 30-minute mark, with the strike partnership of Walker and Lambert teaming up to deliver the goods.

Walker found Lambert in the box with a neat pass, and Lambert made no mistake as he drilled the ball home into the back of the net from a fairly central position.

Rovers continued to ask the majority of the questions as the first half neared its conclusion, although Bury's defence was able to hold out to keep the score at just 1-0 going into the interval.

Bury began the second half positively, but Phillips was rarely troubled in the Rovers goal as the home side continued to boss proceedings.

Haldane rifled an effort over the bar, before Andy Bishop struck a decent chance wide of the target for Bury.

Rovers increased their lead on 61 minutes, as once again Lambert made no mistake from inside the penalty area. A low free-kick from Campbell picked out the in-form forward, and he planted a firm shot beyond the reach of the visiting shot-stopper to make it 2-0.

Richie Baker warmed Phillips' hands as the goalkeeper made a routine stop, before Rickie Lambert went for his hat-trick from a free-kick only for the Bury defensive wall to comfortably do its job.

Joe Jacobson tried his luck from 30 yards after coming off the bench, but Colin Woodthorpe made a brave block to deny to on-loan Cardiff City man what would have been a spectacular goal.

Rovers were worthy winners come the final whistle, and a very happy and productive Easter leaves Paul Trollope's side still in with a chance of sneaking into the top seven places before the season is out.

As reported by the Official Bristol Rovers Web SIte