Rovers were hit by a late sucker punch as they almost battled out a point at league leaders Wycombe Wanderers, with only a penalty able to claim victory for the Chairboys.
Joe Jacobson converted from 12-yards out in second-half stoppage time, breaking stubborn resistance from Rovers who had played for almost the entire second period with 10 men.
And they finished with nine men on the pitch as Donervon Daniels went off injured, leaving Darren Moore’s men with no way back into the game.
Rovers made one change, with Rakish Bingham coming into the side to lead the line after notching his first goal for the club as a substitute in midweek.
Rovers had the first chance of the game after five minutes, with Tom Anderson rising highest to get on the end of Brad Halliday’s deep free-kick but could not direct his effort on target,
Anderson was again in the mix after a free-kick with 16 minutes on the clock. Jon Taylor’s set-piece was blocked by the wall and Ben Whiteman’s follow-up shot was deflected into the path of Anderson, but the big man produced a centre-back’s finish as he lifted his effort over the bar
The home side forced the first save out Seny Dieng after 24 minutes when David Wheeler caused problems down the right and fed Alex Samuel, whose low effort was kept out by Dieng.
Chances were hard to fashion for both sides, with Ben Sheaf unable to beat the wall from a free-kick and Nnamdi Ofoborh trying an effort from distance for the hosts that was straight at Dieng.
The second period started in much the same way as the first, but Rovers were dealt a blow five minutes after the restart when Anderson was shown the red card by referee Michael Salisbury after a late tackle on the home captain Matt Bloomfield.
Madger Gomes was sacrificed, with Donervon Daniels coming on. His first touch was almost to put Rovers ahead, as he got on the end of a free-kick but looped his header off the crossbar.
And Taylor will have felt he should have put Rovers ahead moments later when Reece James found him in space in the area - he did not connect fully and the ball looped up into the hands of home keeper Ryan Allsopp.
It was back to the walls at times for the rest of the match, but Rovers defended resolutely. And when the Chairboys did break through, Dieng was equal to everything.
He got down brilliantly to turn Alex Samuel’s header round a post, while he also had to be alert when Jack Grimmer’s deep cross threatened to creep under the crossbar.
And when Anthony Stewart blasted over from Joe Jacobson’s corner kick the home side looked like the were beginning to believe it was not going to be their day.
And Rovers could have nicked it when Ben Sheaf was pulled down outside the area by Darius Charles. Whiteman stepped up to take the free-kick, but lifted his effort wide.
The decisive intervention int he match came in the first of eight minutes of time added on, when referee Michael Salisbury pointed to the penalty spot after Daniels’ challenge on Akinfenwa in the area.
The impressive Jacobson stepped up to convert past Dieng - ruining his 25th birthday in the process.
And any hopes Rovers had of getting back into the game were hit by Daniels being unable to continue after the challenge, with the nine-men of the visitors never likely to get back into the game.