MACEO Rigters struck a fine brace as Rovers Reserves defeated Stalybridge Celtic 4-0 at Bower Fold on Tuesday evening.

The former Dutch under 21 international had missed most of pre-season after picking up a hamstring injury against Macclesfield Town in Paul Ince's first pre-season friendly, but on his return he scored a goal in each half in a hard working performance for Rigters and the Reserves.

Trialist Tom Denton added a third, before substitute Marcus Marshall added a fourth for a comfortable night for the second string.

Under the charge of assistant 1st team coach Karl Robinson the young Rovers side started lively, Rostyn Griffiths fired over when well placed on six minutes before Andy Haworth put a left-footed strike narrowly wide.

But a poor back header from Jon Bateson on 14 minutes almost gifted the home side with the opening goal but Nathan Joynes put his attempted lob over the advancing Jason Brown and over the crossbar.

That chance lifted Stalybridge and from a 20th minute corner they went closer still when Paul Sykes shot through a crowded area but Haworth was on hand to clear the ball off the line.

Rovers were then dealt a blow on 28 minutes when Dean Winnard limped off with a re-occurrence of a toe injury, he was replaced by 16-year-old Phil Jones.

Rigters hit the side-netting, then Joynes missed a free header after a cross from Lee Ellington, but the deadlock was broken on 42 minutes when Maceo Rigters turned well in a crowded area to fire the ball low into the corner of the net.

Into the second half and on 52 minutes the lead was doubled. Rostyn Griffiths hit a ball over the top for Rigters to chase onto, he rounded Phillips in the Stalybridge goal before firing home. It was a lively display from the former NAC Breda forward who will surely be looking forward to renewing old acquaintances at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Seven minutes later and Rovers extended their lead further when Stalybridge goalkeeper Paul Phillips couldn't hold Bryan Hodge's corner kick and trialist Tom Denton swept home the lose ball.

But a minute later the home side really should have reduced arrears when Jason Brown saved Matty Barlow's effort across goal, the ball ran free to Chris Williams but with the goal gaping he somehow hit the crossbar and the ball bounced to safety.

Substitute Martin McCubbin saw a close-range shot well saved seconds after his introduction on 67 minutes, but fellow sub Marcus Marshall went one better when he followed up a great turn in the area to fire home from ten yards out.

In the closing stages of the game McCubbin saw another effort saved, whilst Jason Brown did well to deny a late shot from the home side.

ROVERS: Brown, Bateson, Gunning, Griffiths (sub Marrow 67 mins), Flynn, Winnard (sub Jones 28 mins), Haworth, O'Keefe, Rigters (sub Marshall 60 mins), Denton, Hodge (sub McCubbin 67 mins).