Blackburn Rovers' under 18s maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-1 away at Derby County on Saturday afternoon.
Striker Jason Banton grabbed his 7th goal of the season to give Rovers the lead, but Derby levelled into the second half.
It wasn't their best display of the campaign, but Gary Bowyer's under 18 side weren't to be denied and when James Knowles (pictured) fired home just past the hour it was enough for Rovers as they made it four wins and one draw from their opening five games this season.
The visitors had the perfect start to the match when they took the lead after just eight minutes. Micah Evans cut in from the right flank to find fellow forward Jason Banton and the striker drove into the six yard box to shoot, seeing the saw the ball divert under the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Tom Hitchcock set up Gearoid Morrissey for an effort on 35 minutes but the Irishman mis-hit his strike at goal. Four minutes later Morrissey was again in the thick of the action but he fired over.
In a game of few goalmouth opportunities for either side the home side levelled just before the hour mark.
From a free-kick on half way, the ball was lofted into the Rovers penalty area, but as defenders Anthony O'Connor and Grant Hanley both went to meet it, the ball spilled to the Derby striker and he took full advantage to fire past Jake Kean in the Rovers goal.
But four minutes later Rovers were back in front. Breaking from a Derby attack Gearoid Morrissey brought the ball out of defence to pick out Micah Evans on the left, the attacker saw his shot saved by the goalkeeper, but he couldn't hold on and James Knowles showed good awareness and composure to lob the ball over the advancing defenders and into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.
A fine Banton run down the left nearly resulted in another Rovers goal but Tom Hitchcock headed over his cross from close-range. Whilst at the other end Kean lept well to tip over a well directed lob.
Two minutes from time Rovers almost added a third. Banton raced down the left to pass onto substitute Josh Morris but a good defensive block saw his shot deflect over the crossbar.
"It was a disappointing performance compared to the standard that we've set ourselves in previous weeks," said coach Gary Bowyer of the match.
ROVERS: Keane, Ramm, Hall, Morrissey (sub Morris 75 mins), Hanley (c), A. O'Connor, Evans, Knowles, Potts, Hitchcock, Banton.
Subs not used: Urwin, Vastić, Ajagbe.
