They were unfortunate not to take the lead after ten minutes when Steve Cowe found Kayode Odejayi who managed to bustle the ball past Morecambe keeper Craig Mawson, but his cross back towards Cowe in the Morecambe penalty area was cleared at the last minute by Stewart Drummond.
Morecambe also had a chance to go in front two minutes later when Gary Thompson's looping header was tipped over by the outstretched arm of Steve Perrin.
The Rovers keeper was required to come to their rescue less than a minute later when he parried Drummond’s 20-yard drive and Jim Bentley sent the follow-up wide of the left-hand post.
Just before the half hour Rovers had their best chance of the game when Steve Jenkins laid the ball of for Cowe whose shot on the turn rebounded of the right-hand post before being cleared.
Just before half time Morecambe almost snatched a goal with a ball on the break when a deep cross found Wayne Curtis at the back post, but Perrin again was able to parry the ball away.
Nineteen minutes into the second half Rovers took the lead when Neil Grayson’s long throw into the Shrimps penalty area found Sykes, whose close-range shot went underneath Mawson and into the net.
The visitors upped the pressure to find an equaliser but were unable to break down a resolute Rovers defence.
The home side on the other hand had two chances in the last ten minutes to wrap the game up with Odejayi and Grayson both squandering their opportunities.
But their one-goal advantage was enough to raise them two places up the Nationwide Conference table.