ROVERS' under 18s suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester United in a game where the scoreline certainly didn't reflect the match.
On a chilly Saturday morning at Carrington, it was a day when United extracted revenge on their 3-0 FA Youth Cup defeat, but it was a match where the home side took their chances and Rovers did not.
The first ten minutes would be symptomatic of the match. Jason Banton saw a near post shot deflected wide, Tom Hitchcock shot straight at the goalkeeper when through and Micah Evans saw an effort blocked when well placed.
But it was United who scored, Josh King breaking away to get the better of Matthew Pearson and Anthony O'Connor to beat Josh Swann with a well taken finish.
Again Rovers attempted to hit back, Jordan Bowen fired over, whilst Evan saw another shot saved. But a harshly awarded penalty saw United doubling their advantage, Robbie Brady scoring from the spot on 24.
Rovers ended the half the stronger of the two sides, playing some lovely flowing football but again the breaks wouldn't go their way. Pearson headed over from a Josh Morris corner, Hitchcock headed over from a Banton corner, whilst with the last kick of the half Morris saw his free-kick brilliantly saved by Conor Devlin in the United goal.
On 51 minutes Rovers had an excellent chance to reduce arrears, Jason Banton raced through on goal but whilst his shot beat Devlin it bounced off the post, Evans had the goal at his mercy but fired over the bar.
Rovers were to regret that missed opportunity to get back in the game as United scored two quick-fire goals just moments later. United's third goal coming after a scramble in the box saw Morris's clearance take a unfortunate deflection and Larnell Cole scored.
A minute later and a vicious shot from Paul Pogba was well stopped by Josh Swann but the ball looped over the goalkeeper and he was unable to stop it crossing the line.
Hitchcock saw a header saved whilst another promising move broke down in the box as Rovers looked for a goal that their play had deserved, but, as had previously happened in the game, the home side broke and took their chances when Etzaz Hussain made it 5-0 with just over 15 minutes to go.
On 83 Rovers eventually grabbed a consolation goal, Michael Potts having been deemed to have been fouled by goalkeeper Devlin, made no mistake from the resulting spot kick.
But when William Keane scored United's 6th at the back post with five minutes to go it was just not Rovers' day.
There were still late chances for Rovers, Banton robbed the defender but couldn't beat the 'keeper, whilst substitute Toni Vastić saw his well struck shot saved.
ROVERS: Swann, Ajagbe, Morris, Knowles (sub Hands 63 mins), A. O'Connor, Pearson, Evans (sub J. Hall 76 mins), Bowen (c), Hitchcock (sub Vastić 76 mins), Potts, Banton.
Subs not used: Urwin, Lindsay.
