IN the end it was a tale of missed chances.

Both sides had opportunities to take three points from this Dr Martens Western fixture, but neither were able to take them.

Mark Benbow came the closest by hitting the post for the hosts in the second half while Mark Atkinson squandered two excellent openings.

Cirencester had even more shots at goal, most from distance, but woeful finishing let them down.

And how Rovers missed the leadership of suspended skipper Steve Pope at the back. Without him the Rovers defence seem to lack confidence and, although carrying injuries, Dave Benton and Steve Hillman twice gifted the visitors scoring opportunities.

Rovers boss George Rooney said: "He's (Pope) the captain and has proved in both penalty areas he's a colossus at this level."

Rooney was also frustrated at seeing scoring situations wasted by his side.

"We had two guilt edge chances in what for us was a poor performance," he added. "As far as I am concerned we had the two best chances on the day and didn't take one.

"We were not very good on the day. They were a big powerful side. I said it would be a really tough encounter and probably a 1-0 game."

Rovers were first to miss when Atkinson scuffed his shot in front of goal midway through the first half.

Cirencester's Scott Griffin then wasted two good opportunities in quick succession. First he forced Paul Wyatt into a good save and three minutes later curled his shot over and wide after a good passing move had forged a gap in Rovers' defence.

A mistake from Hillman 60 seconds after the break let in Griffin but this time he dragged his shot wide. Sixty seconds later it was the hosts' turn to rue a missed chance when Benbow smacked the ball against the upright. Atkinson also glanced a header wide from six yards on 63 minutes.

Adam Mayo, Ben Finch and Griffin were also guilty of failing to find the target for Cirencester with long distance second half efforts - Mayo's coming after Benton had lost the ball on the edge of his own penalty area.

Ryan Mahon and Mayo were later booked following a tussle to add to McCabe's earlier caution.

ROVERS

Wyatt 7, Frost 6, Hillman 6, Benton 6, Mahon 7, Dyson 6, Jackson 7, Benbow 7, Szewczyk 7, Banner 6, ATKINSON (sub Swan 86 mins) 8*. Subs not used: Beckett, Tomkins, Allen, Gandy.

Att - 432.