Jack Evans scored a late winner for Rovers Under-23s as they moved four points clear at the top of Premier League 2 Division Two with four games to play.

He fired home from the edge of the area in the final minute of normal time as Rovers finally found a way past Southampton keeper Jack Rose.

Rose had been a thorn in their side all evening, not least 10 minutes from time when he saved a Joe Grayson penalty.

In the first half he denied Lewis Travis, Okera Simmonds and Jack Evans with a string of impressive stops before Rovers finally found a way through in the 90th minute.

The visitors struggled for clear-cut openings all evening, their best chance falling to Jake Hesketh who was denied by a Tyler Magloire block.

Rovers were short of options in the attacking areas, with Joe Nuttall, Lewis Mansell, Joe Rankin-Costello, Dan Butterworth and Stefan Mols on the injury-list, while Jack Vale was away on international duty.

That saw Lewis Hardcastle used in a more advanced role, with Okera Simmonds leading the line.

It was a quiet, but even start, in the early stages, with both sides wasting good crossing opportunities in the opening 10 minutes.

But Rovers passed up an excellent opening shortly afterwards. John Buckley drifted inside from his right wing-back slot, with his shot deflecting in to the path of Willem Tomlinson but he could only guide the ball wide from six yards out.

Rovers were playing the better of the football, and a terrific one-touch move saw Lewis Travis force a save from Jack Rose. Willem Tomlinson, Hardcastle and Travis were all involved in the move which saw the latter break in to the box, only to see his low shot saved.

While Andrew Fisher was dealing well with inswinging free-kicks and corners, his opposite number was much busier. Matty Platt freed Simmonds with a great ball down the inside right channel, the Rovers striker aiming an effort towards the far corner which Rose saved down low to his right.

On the midway point of the first-half Platt got on the end of a Joe Grayson free-kick, but could only find the side netting with his effort.

The first opening for the visitors in the 23rd minute was an excellent one though when it arrived. Grayson had his pocket picked on the edge of the box by Siph Mdlalose who teed up Jake Hesketh.  But his effort was denied by a terrific flying block by Tyler Magloire who had been booked in the early stages.

Rose continued to deny Rovers though, with Jack Evans the latest player to go close. His lung-bursting break forward from inside his own half ended with him finding the ball at his feet six yards out, with his right-foot effort blocked by the Saints keeper.

After Rovers’ flurry of chances in a short period in the first-half, the sides went in level.

The second half had to wait almost 15 minutes for its first shot, and when it came it didn’t look like troubling Fisher, Olufela Olomola firing well wide after being found by Hesketh.

Matty Platt came through 65 minutes on his return to the side after injury, with Lewis Thompson his replacement as Rovers made their first change.

But the game was becoming tough going for both sides, with neither able to create clear-cut openings as the game became something of a real stalemate.

However, with 10 minutes to go Rovers were presented with a great chance to win it. Jack Evans was tripped in the box, with Grayson picking the ball up, only to see his effort saved by the diving Rose. The keeper guessed correct, moving to his right, to keep the effort out.

But Rovers weren't to be denied as Evans sent them four points clear with four games to go.

Rovers: Fisher, Platt (Thompson, 65), Evans, Doyle, Magloire, Grayson, Buckley, Hardcastle, Simmonds, Tomlinson, Travis

Subs: Barnes, Albinson, Connolly, Moore

Southampton: Rose, Rowthorn (Klarer, 88), Johnson, Little, Jones, O’Driscoll, Mdlalose (Robise, 80), Slattery, Olomola, Hesketh, Tella

Subs: Latham, Hamblin, Smallbone