Rovers' under 18s kept up their unbeaten start to the new campaign with an impressive 5-1 victory away at Barnsley on Saturday.
Following on from a opening day win over Chelsea and a draw away at Reading, Gary Bowyer's young charges followed those results with a comprehensive victory over the Yorkshire side.
It was forward Jason Banton who took the plaudits, netting all five in an impressive display of finishing from the 16-year-old.
However after just four minutes poor defending from both Banton and Jackson Ramm lead to a penalty kick to Barnsley. But goalkeeper Josh Swann, making his first start of the new season, dived brilliantly to his left to make the save.
They also had to withstand early pressure as the home side threatened from a series of free-kicks that were too easily conceded by Rovers, but they came through that sticky spell to get on top.
At the midway point of the half Rovers took the lead. A clever passing move involving Micah Evans, James Knowles, Michael Potts and Tom Hitchcock saw the ball eventually arrive with Jason Banton and he fired home left-footed from 12 yards.
Rovers peppered the Barnsley goal from then on, but against the run just before the break saw Barnsley level.
A shot from the left was well saved by Swann, but he was unfortunate to see the ball rebound off the onrushing attacker and into the back of the net.
But straight from the restart Rovers were back in command. A good ball forward from Anthony O'Connor freed Banton and he cut in from the left to smash a superb right-footed effort into the back of the net.
Moments later Tom Hitchcock should have made it three to Rovers following fine play by Evans, but the young striker headed wide.
But it wasn't all one way traffic as Swann was once again called upon to make an important save, tipping a Barnsley effort onto the post.
The final twenty minutes saw Rovers get the goals that their play deserved. On 70 minutes a swift counter-attack saw Potts release the free running Banton and he slid the ball home for his hat-trick.
Four minutes later and it was 4 for Banton and 4-1 to Rovers as he bent in a 20 yard effort into the the far corner with his right foot, the pick of his goals.
Three minutes from time the rout was complete when midfielder James Knowles played a great one-two with Banton and the striker slotted home into the bottom left hand corner to cap a fine personal display and an impressive team result.
ROVERS: Swann, Ramm, Lindsay, Parry (sub Murray 75 mins), Hanley (c), O'Connor, Evans (sub Vastić 75 mins), Knowles, Potts, Hitchcock, Banton.
Subs not used: Urwin, Ajagbe, Pearson.
