Blackburn Rovers Under-18s secured their place in the semi-finals of the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup with a dominant display over neighbours Accrington Stanley Under-18s at the Academy on Tuesday 26th September.

Ryan Kidd’s youngsters came flying out of the traps, with Patrik Farkas seizing on some sloppy defending to force Stanley goalkeeper Oli Riva into a save, just two minutes into the game.

It was Farkas who broke the deadlock on 19 minutes, finishing off a blistering counter attack after Lorenzo Mullarkey-Matthews charged down the middle and laid it off to the Hungarian youth international.

Just ten minutes later, Nathan Dlamini doubled the advantage when he picked the ball out of the air and tried his luck from 25 yards, finding the bottom left-hand corner with a low drive.

The visitors came back into it, forcing Rovers keeper Adam Khan into two saves before finding the net from close range as Antola Popoola tapped in Harley Lawton’s cross.

Just before the break the two-goal lead was restored as the towering Mullarkey-Matthews rose highest to head home Ben Thirkill’s wide free-kick.

As Rovers went in search of a fourth in the second-half, Stanley hit back against the run of play. Yasin Al-Abbas broke forward and took the ball round Khan to reduce the lead.

With just over ten minutes remaining, Rovers were given a golden opportunity to wrap up the tie as substitute Stephen Edmondson was brought down by Silver Eze just inside the penalty area. Joe Boggan stepped up to coolly convert from the spot to make it 4-2.

Rivals Burnley await in the semi-final of the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup, with the tie to be played at the Rovers Academy on Tuesday 7th November, kick-off 11.30am.

ROVERS: Khan, Mansbridge, Howarth-Johnson (Doherty 46), Litherland (c), Ramwell, Thirkill (Shorrocks 46), Farkas, Shaw, Mullarkey-Matthews, Dlamini (S.Edmondson 75), Boggan.
Subs not used: Thompson, Dunn.

Goals: Farkas (19), Dlamini (29), Mullarkey-Matthews (43), Boggan (79 pen)
Booked: Boggan

ACCRINGTON: Riva, Kelly, Smith, Hall, Lawton, Sonha (Robinson 61), Proctor (Alston 78), Popoola, Al-Abbas, Bentley Waite, Tunstall (Eze 61).
Sub not used: Rogerson.

Goals: Popoola (38), Al-Abbas (72)
Booked: Kelly

Report: Rovers Under-18s 4-2 Accrington Stanley Under-18s