ROVERS' under 18s booked themselves a semi-final against Chelsea after a 2-1 extra-time victory over Everton at Ewood Park.

After a tight opening it was Shane Duffy who gave the visitors the lead with a glancing header four minutes before the half time interval.

But Rovers roared back and deservedly levelled with ten minutes remaining when Grant Hanley controlled a Jason Lowe free-kick on his chest before cooly slotting home.

That set up thirty minutes of added time and it was schoolboy Osayamen Osawe who broke the Toffees hearts when he got the better of Duffy to latch onto a Jason Banton pass and finish in fine style when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

There were a couple of nervy moments as the tie edged towards the 120 minute mark, but Gary Bowyer's young charges saw out the final minutes to book a two-legged showdown with Chelsea in the last four of the competition.

 

With both sides having reached the last eight of the competition not having conceded a goal, it was perhaps expected that this would be a tight affair.

Defender Jackson Ramm had the first chance of note on 7 minutes, exchanging passes with Jordan Bowen and Tom Hitchcock before firing towards goal, but straight at Everton 'keeper Adam Davies.

The visitors hit back almost straight away but were thwarted by a fine save from Josh Swann. Nathan Craig cutting onto his right foot to shoot, but the Rovers number one dived full length to his left to push the ball aside.

After that lively start the game settled into a cat and mouse affair, both sides saw defences on top, little was created by either front line.

Because as such it was perhaps inevitable that the opening goal would come from a set-piece, and four minutes before the break it was Everton who claimed the opener.

A generous free-kick decision saw Jose Baxter send the ball in from the left, and Shane Duffy glanced a header in off the far post. It was Rovers' first goal conceded in the competition.

The second half was slow to get going, with little in the way of goalmouth action until just before the hour mark on which Rovers had their best chance of the game.

Michael Potts played a teasing ball for Tom Hitchcock to chase, getting to the ball just before the 'keeper Hitchcock looked to poke the ball past but it was blocked, but only as far as Jason Banton who shot first time only to see the ball strike an Everton player and go over the bar.

Moments later Phil Jones headed well from a cross by Micah Evans, but the defender, the only Rovers player in the 18-man squad to have had first team experience, headed wide.

Rovers were then somewhat fortunate that Everton were leading by just the one goal when a misplaced back-pass from Grant Hanley almost caught out Josh Swann, but the Rovers goalkeeper managed to retrieve the situation and clear on his goal line.

Everton had a vastly more experienced line-up with no less than seven having tasted first team action, and it was one of those, Jose Baxter, who threatened to add a second goal until a timely block by Phil Jones.

Gary Bowyer threw on Osayamen Osawe for Micah Evans and James Knowles for Michael Potts, and was ready to make a third change when Rovers levelled with ten minutes to go.

Jason Lowe sent over a free-kick into the area where captain Grant Hanley controlled the ball on his chest before firing past Davies.

That equaliser set up the prospect of extra-time, but Rovers would have to do it without Phil Jones after the defender picked up a knock and was unable to continue. Anthony O'Connor came on for his first taste of FA Youth Cup action.

Both sides had chances to win the game in regulation time, but after four additional minutes the whistle blew to signal a further thirty would be required.

On a strength sapping pitch there were some tired legs out there and mistakes were inevitable, but it was Rovers who took advantage at the crucial moment that would prove to be the winner.

Taking the ball to the halfway line, Banton looked to hit a ball forward for Osawe, but Duffy intercepted, however the Rovers schoolboy had other ideas and robbed the defender to race clear on goal and the under 16 forward found the net in some style, lashing the ball past the advancing Davies into the far corner.

What a time to score your first goal for the under 18s.

Everton threw on their final two substitutions in the second period of extra time as they looked for a way to take the game to penalties.

One of those subs, Femo Orenuga twisted his way into the area and to the byline but Shane Duffy, now being employed as a makeshift striker, fired wide under pressure.

Having escaped that moment, the Rovers youngsters then sensibly kept possession well away from Josh Swann's area until two minutes from time when Jason Lowe was adjudged to have fouled Donegan. Baxter had been on free-kick duties all evening and stepped up to shoot. Ewood breathed a sigh of relief as the ball flew high over the bar.

Just a minute of added time was played before the whistle signalled Rovers' first FA Youth Cup semi-final since 2001 when they were defeated in the final by Arsenal.

ROVERS: Swann, Ramm, Morris, Lowe, Hanley, Jones (sub A. O'Connor 83 mins), Evans (sub Osawe 65 mins), Bowen, Hitchcock, Potts (sub Knowles 73 mins), Banton.

Subs not used: Urwin (GK), Pivkovski.

EVERTON: Davies, Nziala, Bidwell. Mustafi, Duffy, Wallace (sub Orenuga 105 mins), Donegan, Forshaw, McAleny (sub Hope 88 mins), Baxter, Craig (sub Garbutt 105 mins).

Subs not used:Roberts (GK), Murphy.

Booked: Lowe, Knowles, Ramm (Rovers), Craig, McAleny, Wallace (Everton)

Attendance: 1148