Joe Ironside’s penalty secured the three points for Rovers in a battling performance against Grimsby Town.
The striker smashed in from the spot after the returning Kyle Hurst was brought down in the box.
It had been a somewhat scrappy game with Rovers turning in a performance of tenacity on and off the ball to claim the win.
Grant McCann made two changes to the side that started against Salford City earlier in the week with Jack Senior and George Broadbent in the XI while Hurst made his return from injury among the substitutes.
It was a scrappy start to the game with both sides struggling for coherent possession. Grimsby skipper Danny Rose produced the first effort when he curled high over the goal from the corner of the box.
The visitors settled the quicker and Harry Clifton headed over from an excellent position after racing in to meet a cross from Rose.
Rovers grew into the game and began to see more of the ball in the opposition half. Ben Close fired over the bar on the angle following a short corner routine.
Ironside blasted over from the centre of the box after being picked out by Tom Nixon with the cutback.
Louis Jones produced an excellent save as half time neared. Gavan Holohan was sent racing clear but saw his low drive tipped away by the Rovers keeper.
Senior latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box but saw his rasping drive blocked by former Rovers full back Danny Amos.
Chances for both sides were few and far between in the early stages of the second half.
Rose touched wide of the near post from a low Michee Efete centre. And the striker flicked the ball onto the inside of the post moments later.
Ironside sent a header off target from a Senior cross just after the hour mark.
Rovers were presented with the opportunity for the opener on 71 minutes when substitute Hurst was brought down after getting beyond Holohan.
Ironside stepped up and smashed his penalty home to give Rovers the lead.
For a while after the goal, it was Rovers who looked the more likely to add the next goal. Hurst drilled into the sidenetting after an excellent breakaway move before Mo Faal headed over from an excellent position in front of goal.
Grimsby pressured but struggled for clear cut opportunities as Rovers defended superbly.
And Owen Bailey rattled the crossbar with a stunning first time strike, straight from a corner as the game moved into stoppage time.
Rovers: Jones, Nixon, Bailey, Anderson, Senior, Molyneux (Biggins 24), Westbrooke, Close (Olowu 88), Broadbent (Hurst 88), Faal, Ironside (Goodman 88). Subs not used: Lawlor, Degruchy, Sotona.
