A YOUNG Blackburn Rovers Academy side drew 1-1 against Stoke City at Brockhall on Friday lunchtime.

In freezing rainy conditions, two first half goals settled a keenly contested match.

The visitors had the first opportunity of the game, but the Stoke attacker fired wide when well placed on four minutes.

Rovers, featuring three under 16s in a side of first year Academy graduates, saw debutant Jamie Maclaren find Alex Billington on the overlap, and his centre saw Toni Vastić fire just wide.

The deadlock was broken on 37 minutes, and again it was a move down the left that created the chance, Billington collecting John O'Sullivan's pass to overlap and cross, Besnik Rustemaj saw his first time shot blocked, but Maclaren (pictured) was on hand to fire home from close range to mark his debut with a goal.

But the lead didn't last long. Three minutes later a free-kick into the area, saw Stoke striker Louis Moult rise above the Rovers defence to head past Jake Kean.

As conditions worsened in the second half it affected the fluidity of both side's play with chances at a premium.

Rustemaj shot wide when well placed, then the young Swede was played through but his effort was saved and Vastić on the follow-up saw his effort from outside the area blocked.

A spectacular volley from goalscorer Jamie Maclaren flew over the bar, before Matthew Pearson was adjudged to be offside when looping a header home following a free-kick.

Stoke weren't without chances of their own in the latter stages of the game, but Gary Bowyer will have been satisfied with the showing from his young charges.

ROVERS: Kean, Ajagbe, Billington, Knowles, A. O'Connor, Pearson, O'Sullivan, Lindsay, Rustemaj, Vastić, Maclaren (subs Pivkovski 75 mins).

Subs not used: Swann (GK), Evans, Hitchcock, Bowen.