ROVERS Under-23s played out a six goal thriller at Middlesbrough in a top of the table clash on Sunday.

A win would have taken Damien Johnson’s men to the Premier League 2 Division 2 summit, but Boro remained there after the 3-3 draw.

Boro named a strong side, with first-teamers Ashley Fletcher, Marvin Johnson, Adam Clayton and Dael Fry all involved, while for Rovers Joe Nuttall, Lewis Travis, Willem Tomlinson and Scott Wharton all featured.

It was Fletcher who was to put his side ahead early on, firing in from a George Miller cross.

But Rovers were always in the game and levelled five minutes before the break through Callum Wright. And the turnaround was complete in first-half injury time as Dan Butterworth reacted quickest to a scramble in the box to fire Rovers ahead.

Within two minutes of the re-start though the teams were level again as Johnson found room in the box to fire home from a tight angle.

Rovers were to score the fifth goal of the game though to get their noses in front for a second time, Scott Wharton rising highest in the box to head beyond the goalkeeper.

But once again it wasn’t to last as within two minutes Fletcher scored his second of the afternoon to level with a header from six yards out.

Both sides had chances to win it late on but were forced to settle for a point.

Rovers still have a game in hand on Boro, but will take a break from league action when they travel to Cardiff City in the Premier League Cup on Monday, January 22 (1pm).

Rovers: Fisher; Travis, Grayson, Tomlinson, Platt (Doyle, 8), Wharton (c), Rankin-Costello, Hardcastle (Buckley, 61), Nuttall, Butterworth, Wright