The goals flowed at a foggy Leigh Sports Village on Monday evening as Rovers Reserves defeated Sunderland 4-2.
Rovers roared into a 3-0 half-time lead after goals from Josh Morris, Maceo Rigters and Grant Hanley put the home side in command.
But a spell of three goals in three second half minutes saw Sunderland score either side of a goal from Junior Hoilett.
Both sides had chances to add to the scoreline, but Iain Brunskill will have been pleased to have got back to winning ways with this spirited display.
The ground may have been shrouded in fog, but a young Rovers Reserve side could see perfectly as their bright start was rewarded with a goal on the quarter hour.
Junior Hoilett had been fouled 25 yards out to the right of the area, and midfielder turned defender Josh Morris curled in a superb left-footed free-kick that crashed in off the crossbar.
The visitors should have been level shortly afterwards but despite being well placed, Roy O'Donovan fired wide.
The Black Cats were to rue that missed chance as Rovers went up the other end with a wonderfully well worked goal.
Defender Grant Hanley fed Hoilett who exchanged passes with Marcus Marshall who then crossed from the byline for Maceo Rigters to head home from close range.
A third goal followed just before the break when following a spell of pressure with a series of corner kicks, Grant Hanley powered in a header for his first goal at Reserve team level to put Rovers in total command at the break.
The second half burst into life with a frenzy of goals just past the hour mark as Sunderland threatened a comeback.
The visitors broke well and when Roy O'Donovan fed Ryan Noble he slipped the ball under the advancing Frank Fielding to reduce arrears.
But that was only for a minute as on 63 minutes Rovers made it 4-1, Junior Hoilett burst into the area before beating Carson with a low drive into the opposite corner.
However the goals didn't stop there and when a penalty was awarded to Sunderland after a challenge in the area, it saw Roy O'Donovan make it three goals in three minutes when he fired home from the spot to make it 4-2.
Rovers then had claims of a goal waved away when Carson couldn't hold Phil Jones' header. Maceo Rigters looked to have poked home the rebound, but the linesman ruled that the ball hadn't crossed the line.
After that rush of goals the final twenty minutes was sedate in comparison, Frank Fielding did well to first save a Liam Noble free-kick before beating away a vicious shot from David Brown.
At the other end Marcus Marshall almost capped an impressive display with a goal. Showing quick feet he skipped past two players on the byline before advancing to shoot, but Carson saved with his legs.
It was an entertaining match in the freezing foggy conditions, but Reserve team boss Iain Brunskill will have been warmed by the display of his young side.
ROVERS: Fielding, Ramm, Morris, Jones, Hanley, Potts, Haworth, Marshall, Santa Cruz (sub Parry 86 mins), Hoilett, Rigters.
Subs not used: Hitchcock, Swann (GK), Banton, Bowen.
SUNDERLAND: Carson, Kay, Brown, Reed, Madden, Cornforth (sub L. Noble), Weir, Meyler, O'Donovan, R. Noble, Luscombe.
Subs not used: Adams, Misiewicz, O'Mahoney, Hubbuck.
Booked: Luscomble (Sunderland)
Attendance: 287
