Top scorer, Giuliano Grazioli, glanced home the opener from a Vitas Astafjev cross. The lead was short lived though as Rovers captain managed to head the ball into his own net while under little pressure.
The game was forced into extra time with both sides coming close but not close enough.
Runcorn's Lee Parle was sent off in the 102nd minute after committing his second bookable offence, a bad tackle on Astafjevs.
Six minutes later, Wayne Carlisle pounced after a scramble to bundle home the second goal. Eventually!
A game which also saw young David Gilroy score his first senior goal of his career during the last few minutes of the second half of extra time.
Runcorn 1 (1) Bristol Rovers 3 (1)
Referee: M Cooper
Attendance: 2444
---------------
Runcorn: Anthony McMillan, Steve Carragher, Peter Ellis, Mike Tomlinson, David Ness, Lee Parle, Gary Lunt, Dominic Morley, David Gamble, Kevin Leadbetter, Matthew McNeil (Liam Watson, 22)
Subs: Ian Baines, Brian Dacey, Liam Watson, Matty McGinn, Mark Winstanley
Bristol Rovers: Scott Howie, Danny Boxall, Trevor Challis, Adam Barrett, Kevin Austin, Wayne Carlisle, Simon Bryant (Lewis Hogg, 100), Robert Quinn, Vitalijs Astafjevs, Paul Tait, Giuliano Grazioli (David Gilroy, 70)
Subs: Ryan Clarke, Kevin Gall, David Gilroy, Lewis Hogg, Andrew Shore
Bookmark or share this story with: