Rovers were eliminated from the 2011–12 Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the first hurdle when League One side Wycombe Wanderers beat them 3–1 at Adams Park. The Wycombe side included two former Gas men in James Tunnicliffe, who had spent the whole of the previous season on loan with The Pirates, and Andy Sandell, who was released by Rovers in 2007 after a single season with the club, as well as Scott Rendell, who would join Rovers on loan just a month after this game. The result was earned for Wycombe by striker Stuart Beavon, who scored a hat-trick in front of the meagre crowd of just 771 people, with Matt Harrold netting a consolation goal for Rovers.