NEW boss Jimmy Quinn saw Jeff Goulding cap a memorable debut with a dream goal before tipping Cherries' striking find to become a "tremendous asset" to the club.
Quinn and his assistant Jason Tindall enjoyed a watching brief as Cherries - under the charge of Joe Roach - coasted into the second round at a canter last night.
Goulding, who was snapped up from non-league Fisher Athletic at the end of last week, paved the way for victory when he headed Cherries into a first-half lead.
And second-half strikes from Rovers old boy Sammy Igoe and Danny Hollands put the finishing touches to a deserved triumph.
"He's a talent," said Quinn of Goulding. "And I can do a bit of work with him. But it was his first game and he's only been here for a couple of days."
Quinn added: "It was a tremendous performance. We passed the ball well and you could see the confidence was there. It's amazing what a change does."
Goulding was handed his debut as Cherries made four changes following Saturday's dismal defeat at Port Vale.
The former Fisher Athletic marksman came in to partner Brett Pitman up front as loan pair Craig Lindfield and Reneil Sappleton both made way.
Igoe and Scott Wagstaff also returned to the starting line-up, with Marvin Bartley dropping down to the bench and Ryan Garry rested.
Although Rovers went close to drawing first blood when Rickie Lambert's sharp turn and shot forced Shwan Jalal into making a smart save in the early stages, the visitors offered precious little else during the first half.
Cherries countered with Igoe's speculative 35-yard drive soaring over the crossbar and a shot from Wagstaff drawing a first save of the night from Steve Phillips.
Some nifty footwork from the lively Wagstaff created a difficult chance at the far post for Pitman who could only scoop his effort over the crossbar.
And a promising passage of play involving Darren Anderton and Goulding ended with Hollands meeting Wagstaff's ball across the top of the box, only for Phillips to save the day.
Pitman was errant with a glorious opportunity after 36 minutes, the striker sent clear by Warren Cummings's defence-splitting pass from deep.
But after outstripping his marker and clipping the ball over Phillips, Pitman's header was cleared off the line by Steve Elliott before he blasted his follow-up into the side netting.
However, Cherries made the breakthrough on 38 minutes when a well-worked corner routine reaped rewards for new boy Goulding.
The 24-year-old was on hand at the far post to nod home his maiden strike after Anderton had flicked on Cummings's flag kick.
And Wagstaff went close to doubling Cherries' lead when he let fly with an angled drive that just cleared the crossbar a couple of minutes later.
Goulding was denied a second goal after the break when Rovers defender Aaron Lescott nipped in front of him to take Pitman's cross off his toe at the far post.
As Rovers began to finally find their feet, Lambert's powerful header landed on top of the net before Craig Disley's low shot flashed past Jalal's near post.
Goulding then displayed his aerial prowess when he rose to meet an Igoe cross with a firm header, his effort narrowly clearing the crossbar.
The debutant received a deserved standing ovation when Josh McQuoid replaced him after 62 minutes.
Igoe added to Goulding's first-half goal when he doubled Cherries' advantage with a well-taken strike after 67 minutes.
The 32-year-old picked his spot in the bottom left-hand corner of Phillips's net after McQuoid's square pass had perfectly teed him up around 12 yards from goal.
It was almost 3-0 when Pitman's blistering drive fizzed past the upright before Hollands put the tie out of Rovers' reach when he grabbed a third after 75 minutes.
The midfielder intercepted a weak headed backpass from Elliott and turned the ball past a bemused Phillips to cap a thoroughly deserved victory.
In the closing stages, Jason Pearce's superb saving block preserved Cherries' clean sheet and denied Lambert a consolation goal.
Cherries (4-4-2): Jalal 7; Bradbury 7, Pearce 7, Cooper 8.5, Cummings 8; Wagstaff 8, Anderton 8.5 (Bartley, 77), Hollands 8, Igoe 8.5* (Partington, 83); Goulding 8.5 (McQuoid, 62), Pitman 7.5.
Unused subs: Ward, Pryce (g/k).
*Daily Echo merit marks
Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Phillips; Green (Hinton, 77), Anthony, Elliott, Lescott; Lines, Disley, Campbell, Hughes (Rigg, 61); Lambert, Duffy (Hunt, 72).
Unused subs: Parrinello, Green (g/k).
Booked: Anthony.
Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).
Attendance: 2,220.
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