PAUL Ince's rein at Blackburn Rovers got off to a winning start thanks to a pre-season friendly victory over the club that launched him onto the managerial ladder.

Back at Moss Rose, Macclesfield Town, the place where the Guv'nor became the Gaffer, Ince's new charges gained a comfortable win over the League Two side.

Goals either side of half-time from David Dunn and Paul Gallagher secured the victory on the night although Gritton reduced arrears.

Ince started with his strongest Rovers squad available, David Bentley absent with a calf strain, whilst Roque Santa Cruz, Andre Ooijer, Brett Emerton and Aaron Mokoena were still on leave following their international exploits last month.

Matt Derbyshire, operating on the right, had the first effort at goal, his shot on the turn caught at the second attempt by Jonathon Brain in the Macclesfield goal.

But it was the home side who twice tested Brad Friedel's goal in the space of three minutes, first Brad Friedel could only fumble Terry Dunfield's low effort, the American claiming the ball at the second attempt. Then a second free-kick into the area also caused concern, Friedel just about tipping Hessey's effort over the bar.

Rovers enjoyed plenty of possession without posing too much of a threat up front, a Pedersen free-kick was touched wide by the outstretched boot of Samba. Whilst Benni McCarthy's brilliant turn and shot crashed off the outside of the post.

Three minutes before the break the deadlock was broken, and in fine style. David Dunn collected a pass from Johann Vogel midway in the Macclesfield half before skipping past his marker and curling a delightful effort into the bottom corner of the goal from just inside the area.

As is so often the case in pre-season friendlies, changes were aplenty at the break with Ince changing his entire starting line-up from the first half.

But that didn't alter the flow of the game as just seventeen seconds after the restart Rovers saw their lead doubled, Tony Kane with a strong run down the right before delivering a pin-point cross for Paul Gallagher to score with a header.

But just three minutes later it was the Silkmen who got on the scoresheet, Francis Green's low centre presenting a tap-in for strike partner Martin Gritton.

Despite their younger years, the Rovers' second half team put in a hard working display, Paul Gallagher twice being denied by Brain in the Macclesfield goal, first with a near-post effort, then with a low free-kick that was pushed aside. Whilst Aaron Doran had strong claims for a penalty waved away.

It was the young Rovers squad who looked the more likely to grab further goals, but Ince will no doubt be delighted to mark his first game in charge with a victory.

MACCLESFIELD: Brain (sub Imerson 82 mins), Reid, Deen (sub Jennings 61 mins) Hessey, Walker, Brisley (sub Rooney 73 mins), Bell (sub Millar 61 mins), Dunfield (sub Hadfield 61 mins), Gritton (sub Evans 52 mins), Green (sub Yeo 52 mins), Thomas (sub Harvey 52 mins).

Subs not used: Blackman, Flynn.

ROVERS 1st half: Friedel, Reid, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Derbyshire, Dunn, Vogel, Pedersen, Roberts, McCarthy.

ROVERS 2nd half: Brown, Kane, Winnard, Khizanishvili, Olsson, Doran (sub Clarke 69 mins), Judge, Hodge, Treacy, Gallagher, Rigters.

Attendance: 2034