Tom Hitchcock scored a fine brace but it wasn't enough to stop Rovers slipping to a narrow 3-2 defeat at the hands of Manchester United on Wednesday evening.

In Rovers' penultimate match, it was a game that was symptomatic of their season, Gary Bowyer's side dominated for long spells, creating a host of chances, but hesitancy at the back once again proved costly.

After a bright opening from Rovers at Carrington it was the home side who grabbed the opening goal with their first attack of the game, Lingard squeezing the ball home from close-range after skipping past two challenges.

Unbowed by the shock of going a goal behind, Rovers picked up the pace, Josh Morris firing narrowly over, whilst Jason Banton's steered effort was comfortably saved by Devlin in the United goal.

Michael Potts was lively in midfield, creating a chance for himself after dispossessing his man, but he too saw his shot saved, then Morris burst through to lift the ball over the goalkeeper, but in the windy conditions the ball flew just wide of goal.

Jason Banton went even closer for Rovers as they continued to pin their hosts back in their own half, the Rovers forward crashing a 20-yard strike off the top of the crossbar.

The leveller that Rovers' play so richly deserved finally came on 25 minutes. Jason Banton threading the ball through to Tom Hitchcock in the area and he made no mistake slipping the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper.

Rovers went looking for a second goal, Gearoid Morrissey hit a long-range effort that flew narrowly over the bar, whilst a flowing move involving Banton, Hitchcock and Potts saw the midfielder flick the ball just wide of the far post.

But unfortunately for Rovers the half ended as it had started, with the home side grabbing an undeserved second goal, Ajose's initial effort was saved by Josh Swann in the Rovers goal but the ball looped back towards goal and was adjudged to have crossed the line before it was cleared.

Despite the blow of conceding so late in the first half, Rovers again looked the more lively of the two sides in the second period. From the off they immediately went on the offensive, Michael Potts with a one-two with Tom Hitchcock but his shot deflected wide. From the resulting corner kick Phil Jones put his first-time effort the wrong side of the upright.

On 52 minutes good play down the left resulted in Rovers getting back on level terms, Banton beating his man in the corner before finding Hitchcock in the area and he fired home from close-range.

But just past the hour mark the home side regained the lead with their first effort at goal in the second half, Ajose grabbing his second with a well struck shot from outside the area that gave Swann no chance.

Kicking into the wind Rovers struggled to carve open the sort of chances they enjoyed in the first half as the home side enjoyed a greater share of possession than previously. Josh Swann denied Ajose his hat-trick, diving well to his right to tip the ball around the post.

Rovers thought they had leveled for a third time with fifteen minutes remaining when Jones headed home Potts' free-kick, but the Rovers captain was adjudged to have been offside.

Substitute Micah Evans fired wide after a one-two with Hitchcock, whilst fellow sub Tom Murray dragged an effort wide of the mark.

In the final ten minutes Grant Hanley headed powerfully but over the crossbar, whilst the eager Potts saw his strike from outside the area go narrowly over the bar.

To sum up Rovers' evening, Micah Evans had strong claims for a penalty waved away after his centre appeared to have struck the arm of a United defender in the area.

The under 18s play their final game of the season at Brockhall this Saturday at 11.00am when Bolton Wanderers are the visitors.

ROVERS: Swann, Jones (c), Ajagbe (sub Ramm 46 mins), Potts, Hanley, A. O'Connor, Morrissey, Bowen (sub Evans 64 mins), Hitchcock, Banton, Morris (sub Murray 74 mins).

Subs not used: Urwin, Lindsay.