ROVERS' under 18s crashed out of the FA Youth Cup at the third round stage after a dubious extra-time goal won the game for Charlton Athletic.

In a tight encounter at The Valley, Rovers broke the deadlock on 38 minutes when a Jake Simpson cross was flicked on by Tom Hitchcock and a fast-arriving Michael Hall drove home from the edge of the area.

But that lead lasted just four minutes when Jack Clark found Sam Long who steered the ball into the corner of the net.

Neither side could regain the lead in ninety minutes meaning extra-time was required to separate the two sides. But when the winning goal arrived it was in controversial circumstances, Jonjo Shelvey appearing to be several yards offside, Bjorn Bussmann saved his initial attempt but the rebound was kind and he stroked the ball into the empty net.

Rovers threw everything into grabbing a late equaliser but their efforts went un-rewarded as Charlton progressed through to the next round.

On a chilly evening at The Valley, it was the home side who started the better side. Jonjo Shelvey's audacious chip from inside the centre circle almost caught Bjorn Bussmann out in the Rovers goal, the German stopper scrambling back to his line to thankfully see the ball land on the roof of the net.

A well-worked corner kick routine on 12 minutes saw Lozano-Calderon cross into the box but Yado Mambo headed over the box.

Off the back of four straight defeats, Rovers started nervously, but as the half progressed they started to get their game going. A Callum O'Connor throughball almost set Tom Hitchcock away but Callum Christie in the Charlton goal was alert to the danger and claimed ahead of the Rovers striker.

On 25 minutes a period of passing play from the visitors saw the ball eventually worked to Michael Potts but he steered his effort from 25 yards just wide of goal.

But twice in the space of three minutes Rovers cleared the ball off their line, first Andy Parry showing excellent defending skills to clear from inside his own six yard box, then from a Charlton free-kick Godfrey hooked the ball goalwards only to see Tom Hitchcock clear from under his own bar.

Rovers went straight up the other end and went close themselves. Aaron Doran with a free-kick into the area, Hanley and Jones both flicked on before Hitchcock clipped the ball goalwards, but as it looped over Christie in the Charlton goal it also went just over the bar, the ball landing on the roof of the net.

But Rovers didn't have long to wait before the deadlock was finally broken, when on 38 minutes Jake Simpson did well down the right flank, the Rovers midfielder hit a low ball into the area, Tom Hitchcock flicked the ball back where Michael Hall arrived to fire home from just inside the area.

The lead, however, only lasted four minutes. Slack marking by Rovers down the right saw Jack Clark find Sam Long in the area and he slipped the ball under Bussmann into the corner of the net.

A minute later and Long almost grabbed his, and Charlton's, second. The Charlton midfielder driving just wide from the edge of the area.

After the restart it was Charlton who started the stronger, Bussmann tipping over a Jenkinson effort from the edge of the area on 48 minutes.

Ben Godfrey fired wide when well-placed, whilst Bussmann saved well to deny Long after a break upfield. But those chances were a rarity as both teams battled hard.

With extra-time looming, both sides had chances, Charlton sub' Lewis Perkins saw a shot well-saved by Bussmann, whilst at the other end a corner kick fell to Gavin Gunning on the edge of the area, but his shot bounced up and into the goalkeeper's arms.

So with no further goals extra-time was required to separate the two teams, and ten minutes in that goal finally came, but it was certainly in dubious circumstances.

A ball from the Charlton half found Jonjo Shelvey appearing yards offside, but as every player stood waiting for the flag to be raised it never arrived and the Charlton midfielder beat Bussmann at the second attempt after his initial shot had been saved.

It was tough on Rovers as they had worked tirelessly. In the final fifteen minutes of extra-time they threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser. A last minute free-kick on the edge of the area provided the opportunity, but Doran drove into the wall and as the ball was cleared the full-time whistle was blown.

So for the third year in succession Rovers fall on their travels in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.

CHARLTON: Christie, Solly, Clark, Stavrinou (c), Mambo, Jenkinson, Long (sub O'Shea 78 mins), Shelvey, Godfrey, Tuna (sub Perkins 64 mins), Lozano-Calderon (sub McGinty 116 mins).

Subs not used: Lee (GK), Da Vasson.

ROVERS: Bussmann, O'Connor, Gunning (c), Hall, Hanley, Jones, Simpson (sub Bowen 78 mins), Morrissey (sub Parry 111 mins), Hitchcock, Potts (sub Banton 78 mins), Doran.

Subs not used: Swann (GK), Morris.

Booked: Godfrey, Solly, O'Shea (Charlton), Hall, O'Connor (Rovers).