Rovers' second string continued their winning start to their pre-season campaign with a 3-1 win over Southport at Haig Avenue on Saturday.
Following on from the Reserves' 5-1 win over Vauxhall Motors, Iain Brunskill's young charges were again in fine goalscoring form against the Blue Square North team.
In an even first half it was Rovers who took the lead on 29 minutes. A free kick was awarded on the edge of the box after Andy Haworth had been fouled and Nick Blackman curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner with a fine left-footed strike.
But Southport matched their illustrious opponents and deservedly got back on level terms just before the break from the penalty spot. Defender Johnny Flynn was adjudged to have fouled his man in the area and Ciaran Kilheeney smashed the ball past Frank Fielding in the Rovers goal.
However Rovers dominated proceedings in the second half, scoring two further goals to complete the victory.
They regained the lead just two minutes after the restart when from a long ball forward, Marcus Marshall outpaced his marker and ran into the area. Initially the Rovers forward had been tripped and as he went to ground the referee blew for a spot kick, but he had managed to get his shot away and as the ball trickled into the back of the net past the stranded goalkeeper, the goal stood. Marshall's second in pre-season.
54 minutes saw Rovers extended their lead when a cross from Andy Haworth found Nick Blackman in the six yard box, but his close-range effort was saved, but Gavin Gunning was there to smash home the rebound.
As is often the case at this time of the year, the flow of the game was disrupted in the final twenty minutes as both sides made a host of changes resulting in no further goals.
One down side for Rovers was the early departure of David Hoilett who was injured in a challenge early on and was unable to continue after 17 minutes.
ROVERS: Fielding, Jones (sub O'Connor 82 mins), Flynn (sub Hanley 82 mins), Gunning, Hall; Marshall (sub Santa Cruz 63 mins), Lowe (sub Morrissey 76 mins), Marrow, Haworth; Blackman, Hoilett (sub Rigters 17 mins).
Sub not used: Kean.
