REPORT | BRISTOL ROVERS 0 ARGYLE 2
Bristol Rovers 0
Argyle 2
Waine 23
Hardie 32
A pulsating first-half display was enough for Argyle to book their place in the semi-finals of the Papa Johns Trophy at the Memorial Stadium.
The Greens overwhelmed Bristol Rovers with waves of attacking football and the reward came with a first goal in Green for Ben Waine, followed by a decisive second from Ryan Hardie on the half-hour.
The Pilgrims continued to create chances throughout the evening but the initial two-goal burst was ultimately enough for victory.
A fresh look to the Argyle side represented starting berths for January recruits Waine, Callum Wright and Jay Matete, along with the youthful inclusion of Jack Endacott on the left wing.
The Greens conjured the first opening on a wet and wild evening, Waine forcing his way past a couple of tackles before feeding a pass to Hardie, who dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Callum Burton was sharp off his line to scoop up a ball over the top before a poignant applause on 16 minutes in support of Bristol Rovers star Nick Anderton, who is battling a rare form of bone cancer.
The game resumed with a surge down the right from Joe Edwards but his cutback just eluded the onrushing Pilgrim forwards. A dangerous corner from Rovers was then cleared under pressure by the Argyle defence.
Moments later, Waine enjoyed his special moment. Matt Butcher scooped a cross into the penalty area and Waine, climbing above the home defence, did a superb job in generating enough power with the header to steer the ball past goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola.
A fine Waine pass almost released Hardie three minutes after the goal but Jaakkola was quick off his line to hoof clear. The ball fell to Edwards for an audacious return effort from 45 yards, cleared by the Gas defence.
Hardie then found acres on the left, slipped a pass inside for Waine but he just got the ball stuck under his feet and skewed the shot wide from a great position.
The second goal looked inevitable and it was delivered in superb fashion. Macaulay Gillesphey speared a wonderful long ball through the swirling wind for the run of Hardie, who brought it under his spell with a sublime first touch and planted a side-foot finish inside the near post.
Argyle were in complete control, creating chances at will. The next came via a delicious cross from the right by Hardie that found Endacott racing in at the far post for a low effort just about fended by Jaakola.
When Rovers did enjoy a rare attack, Butcher was in the right place to make a brave block on the edge of the area. An accomplished first-half display was completed by Waine latching on to another ball over the top and unleashing a left-foot effort from 22 yards that grazed the bar.
After Butcher had curled a shot narrowly wide, Rovers carved out a massive chance on 56 minutes, Luke McCormick forcing a fine save from Burton and Edwards reacted brilliantly to the rebound, preventing a simple tap-in for John Marquis with a magnificent challenge.
Argyle replied with a corner that caused mayhem. James Bolton was blocked in the six-yard box before Endacott steered a shot narrowly over. A fabulous inswinging cross from Endacott prompted more panic, with Gillesphey a whisker away from finding the decisive touch.
The Greens had weathered a bright start to the second period from Rovers and entered the closing 20 minutes with a relatively comfortable cushion, with Bolton thwarting one surge from the right with a fine covering block.
Nigel Lonwijk took his turn with a superb goal-saving tackle, as Argyle freshened up the ranks with the introduction of Oscar Halls and Niall Ennis for Bolton and Hardie.
Freddie Issaka replaced Waine for the final couple of minutes of a tremendous evening for Argyle. The semi-final draw takes place on Saturday afternoon.
Bristol Rovers: 32 Anssi Jaakkola; 2 James Connolly, 3 Lewis Gordon (22 Harvey Saunders H-T), 9 John Marquis, 18 Ryan Loft, 21 Antony Evans, 23 Luke McCormick, 25 Glenn Whelan (capt), 28 James Gibbons, 30 Luca Hoole, 37 Bobby Thomas. Substitutes (not used): 1 James Belshaw (gk), 6 Sam Finley, 7 Scott Sinclair, 10 Aaron Collins, 15 Paul Coutts, 40 Josh Coburn.
Booked: Loft 84, Thomas 90
Argyle: 25 Callum Burton; 2 James Bolton (43 Oscar Halls 82), 3 Macaulay Gillesphey, 7 Matt Butcher, 8 Joe Edwards (capt), 9 Ryan Hardie (11 Niall Ennis 82), 21 Nigel Lonwijk, 23 Ben Waine (48 Freddie Issaka 89), 26 Callum Wright, 28 Jay Matete, 42 Jack Endacott. Substitutes (not used): 1 Mike Cooper (gk), 17 Bali Mumba, 20 Adam Randell, 49 Caleb Roberts.
Booked: Matete 71, Lonwijk 77, Ennis 87
Attendance: 3,742 (678 away)
Referee: Darren Drysdale