ROVERS' Academy side slipped to a disappointed 3-2 defeat at the hands of Manchester United, despite going two goals up in the first half.

The game got off to the perfect start for Gary Bowyer's side, Aaron Doran and Francis Zenaba had already gone close before Gavin Gunning was brought down in the penalty area on nine minutes.

Alan Judge stepped up to convert from the spot, driving the ball to the 'keeper's right and into the back of the net.

Two minutes later and the lead was doubled, striker Marcus Marshall capitalising on a poor back pass to race through to score at the near post with a fine shot, his first goal since signing for the club last month.

But on fifteen minutes the visitors were handed a lifeline when Rovers themselves conceded a penalty for a push in the box, but Andreas Arestidou made a fine save, diving to his left to deny James Derbyshire.

Rovers were comfortable, but on the stroke of half-time United got a way back into the game, albeit fortunately, when a through-ball took a wicked deflection off the referee which wrong-footed the Rovers defence and this allowed Derbyshire through to make amends from his earlier miss to score.

Just before the hour mark and the scores were level, there was a suspicion of offside as Macheda ran through on goal but he comfortably beat Arestidou to make it 2-2.

Then on 77 minutes it got worse for the home side as United took the lead, the Rovers defence hesitated on the edge of the box, failing to close the ball down and that allowed Evans to put the visitors in front.

But Rovers still had chances to get something out of the game, Aaron Doran had two late chances as they ended the game the stronger of the two sides. Firstly the Irishman shot straight at the goalkeeper when well positioned, then on the stroke of full-time Doran fired over from six yards after a decent run.

Post-match, under 18s coach Gary Bowyer said: "After a very positive 1st half, we seemed to take our foot off the gas and allowed Manchester United back into the game, yet we still created chances to have gotten something out of the game.

"It was pleasing for Marcus to get on the scoresheet as he is improving all the time."

ROVERS: Arestidou, Bateson (sub Kavanagh 70 mins), Paterson, Judge, Gunning, Winnard, Haworth, Zenaba, Marshall, Doran, M. O'Connor. Subs not used: C. O'Connor, Keita, Hall, McCubbin.