IT’S advantage Bristol Rovers in the battle to join Newport County AFC in League Two next season.

Despite having Newport-born Ellis Harrison sent off in the closing stages, the Pirates plundered a 1-0 lead in the first leg of their Conference play-off semi-final at Forest Green Rovers on Wednesday night.

Harrison was dismissed for a second bookable offence – a foul on the home goalkeeper Steve Arnold – 15 minutes from time but his teammates held on the lead given to them by former Forest Green favourite Matty Taylor after just 17 minutes.

The hosts, who featured ex-County skipper David Pipe as an emergency left-back, will hope to turn things around in the second leg at the Memorial Ground on Sunday.

Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke had no argument with the red card and warned that the job is only half done.

“I thought in the first 45 minutes we were excellent,” he told BBC Radio Bristol.

“We were a little bit unfortunate not to score a few more goals.

"We played some really good football and were on the front foot.

"It's testament to my boys that, having missed out on the title on Saturday, there was no hangover, no disappointment and no players feeling sorry for themselves.

"In the second half, as you'd expect, Forest Green came into it a bit more, though they only really started to ask questions of us when we went down to ten men.

“He gives the referee a reason to send him off, he jumps into him,” he added.

“The boys saw it through but it’s only half a job done.”

Forest Green manager Ady Pennock felt his side gave the visitors too much respect at the New Lawn.

“Before the game we wanted to still be in the tie and we definitely are, but we can't play like we did first half,” he said.

“I think we just gave them too much respect – Steve Arnold kept us in the tie.”

The eventual winners will face either Grimsby Town or Eastleigh in the Conference Promotion Final at Wembley on May 17.

The Mariners, featuring former Exiles Christian Jolley and Paul Bignot, aim to shoot down the Spitfires, who have ex-County stars Chris Todd and Jamie Collins as well as Yemi Odubade and Craig McAllister on their books, in the first leg of their semi-final tonight.