Rovers' under 18s slipped to a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Everton on Saturday.

Gary Bowyer's side got off to the worst of starts when just two minutes in a poor clearance from the edge of his own area by Bjorn Bussmann was seized upon by an Everton attacker and he fired the ball back into the empty net.

But the Rovers Academy players didn't let their heads drop and started to gain control of the game, dominating possession, but unable to fashion chances in front of goal.

That was until the 24th minute when Rovers got the goal their play deserved. Jason Lowe robbed his man in the centre of midfield before feeding Jordan Bowen on the right, and his centre was swept home by Micah Evans from close-range for his first goal for the under 18s.

Rovers continued to enjoy the lion's share of the ball, but again without carving out any clear cut chances, and they were made to pay just three minutes after the restart when hesitant defending from centre half Grant Hanley allowed an Everton striker to nip in a score from a tight angle.

The home side looked for a way back into the game, but with them pressing for an equaliser they were caught at the back once again, Hanley's poor square ball across his area was intercepted and Everton duly added a third.

Speaking after the game, Gary Bowyer said: "We played well in the first half with the ball, but we failed to capitalise on the amount of possession that we had.

"In the second half it was an even contest, apart from our two costly mistakes, which has been symptomatic of our season."

ROVERS: Bussmann, C. O'Connor, Hall, Lowe, Hanley, Parry, Potts, Bowen (sub Hitchcock 70 mins), Banton, Evans, Morrissey (sub Morris 82 mins).

Subs not used: Swann, Simpson, Ryan.