Rickie Lambert's ninth goal of the season handed Bristol Rovers a narrow triumph at Colchester and their first away league away win this term.

Lambert rose above Paul Reid to head home skipper Stuart Campbell's corner just seven minutes after the break.

Earlier, Rovers almost took the lead when Chris Lines' close-range header was tipped onto the bar by Dean Gerken.

Matt Heath hooked over from a corner as the hosts pressed for an equaliser but it was to no avail.

Colchester: Gerken, White, Heath, Reid, Borrowdale, Yeates, Izzet (Gillespie 54), Hammond, Perkins (Wordsworth 66), Jackson, Platt (Vernon 66).
Subs Not Used: Cousins, Coyne.

Booked: Reid.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, Pipe, Coles, Hinton, Lescott, Lines, Campbell, Disley, Hughes, Duffy (Hunt 81), Lambert.
Subs Not Used: Mike Green, Jacobson, Anthony, Kuffour.

Booked: Lambert, Disley.

Goals: Lambert 53.

Att: 4,811

Ref: Jarnail Singh (Middlesex).