Steve Brooker was denied by the woodwork as Bristol City failed to make home advantage tell in the first leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Area Final against rivals Rovers.
The striker beat Steve Phillips with a 64th-minute volley, but the ball cannoned back off a post and was cleared.
Bristol Rovers deserved their good fortune. They defended comfortably for most of the game against opponents from a higher league and the tie will now be decided at the Memorial Stadium next Tuesday night.
Brooker missed another great chance to claim victory when shooting over from point-blank range in the 62nd minute after a Wayne Andrews shot had been saved. A minute later Rovers created their best chance, with Craig Disley bursting clear from midfield only to shoot inches wide.
A crowd of over 18,000 watched the first competitive Bristol derby for five years, but the game failed to live up to the occasion.
Neither side managed a shot on target in the first half and it was a quiet evening for Phillips, returning to the club he served for 10 years. City never had the ideas to break down a resolute Rovers defence and it was the visitors who took all the honours.
Sporting Life.