ROVERS under 18s ended a successful season for the Academy with a goalless draw away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday.
In a season in which the under 18s reached the FA Youth Cup semi-final, going out to eventual winners Chelsea, and saw second year pros Phil Jones and Grant Hanley make their debuts with the first team, it drew to a close with the young Rovers picking up a point, although it should have been all three.
The Rovers side, featuring a first start in four months for defender Andy Parry, started brightly.
But play was delayed for several minutes when a nasty challenge by a Wolves player on Jason Banton resulted in the Rovers striker having to be stretchered off the pitch. The challenge only resulting in a caution for the Wolves offender. The injury to Banton isn't expected to be too serious.
Despite that early setback Rovers created a host of chances. Andy Parry's partner at the centre of defence Matty Pearson headed wide from a James Knowles corner kick, then from another Knowles centre the ball again fell to Pearson but the 16-year-old fired wide.
Rovers played some good football at times, Micah Evans seeing a shot saved after a fine exchange of passes involving Jordan Bowen, Tom Hitchcock and James Knowles.
Toni Vastić then wasted a great opportunity to break the deadlock when he was played clean through, but the Austrian took his shot early and the goalkeeper saved. Moments later Evans was presented with a similar chance but didn't take it.
At the back the Rovers defence was rarely troubled, Parry and Pearson snuffing out any chance that came Wolves' way.
The second half continued in a similar fashion, Pearson headed wide a Jordan Bowen cross, a chance he should have converted. Then Vastić got on the end of a Knowles centre but he put his header the wrong side of the post.
As the game drew to a close a Knowles free kick saw Reece Hands fire goalwards but his effort was brilliantly saved by the Wolves' goalkeeper as the game ended goalless.
Speaking after the match, under 18s coach Gary Bowyer said: "I couldn't fault the players for their effort and the way they went about the game. They played well against a much older Wolves side.
"I'm delighted with our younger players and Andy Parry and Matty Pearson were excellent at the back.
"We just weren't agressive or clinical enough in front of goal to have won the game which would have been richly deserved."
ROVERS: Urwin, Wylie, Ajagbe, Knowles, Pearson, Parry (sub Edwards 75 mins). Evans, Bowen, Hitchcock, Vastić, Banton (sub Hands 10 mins).
Subs not used: Henley, Swann, Murray.
