ROVERS 3

(Williams OG, 36, Lynch, 43, Butterworth, 90)

WREXHAM 1

(Stephens, 8)

ROVERS moved in to the third round of the FA Youth Cup with victory over Wrexham at Ewood Park.

Two goals in the final 10 minutes of the first-half proved decisive for Rovers who were well deserving of the victory.

And while the margin didn’t quite highlight the difference in quality between the two teams, Rovers booked a home date with Stoke City in the third round.

The visitors, who worked hard throughout, took a shock lead in the eighth minute, but an own goal, and Brad Lynch strike, turned the tie just before half-time.

Rovers’ inability to take the host of chances which came their way in the second half meant the game was never out of sight until Dan Butterworth's well taken third goal late on, moments after seeing a penalty saved. 

Billy Barr had called for his side to shed any possible nerves about playing Ewood Park and put on a show.

Things started promisingly, with Rovers quick to find their passing stride, and almost the opening goal. A ball over the top from Sam Barnes sent Jack Vale away down the right, with the ball eventually falling for Callum Wright at the far post whose effort came back off the inside of the post.

Rovers did have the ball in the net shortly afterwards after more good play down the right. A raking crossfield pass from Hayden Carter freed Andrew Jackson and his cross was swept home by Vale, only for the winger to be flagged offside.

And so came the sucker punch, as their good start counted for little when Wrexham took the lead with eight minute on the watch.  A right-wing corner was headed goalwards, and although Matthew Campbell pulled off a good save low down, full-back Daniel Stephens was there to turn the ball home.

For the 20 minutes thereafter, the game became scrappy, something which suited the visitors as Rovers struggled to regain their rhythm.  They saw plenty of the ball, but an organised Wrexham side were proving a tough nut to crack.

It was becoming an exercise of Rovers passing and probing, but failing to test Dane Rigby in the visitors’ goal, with Niall Freeman forcing a save out of Campbell just after the half hour mark on a rare foray forward.

Rovers’ wide players had looked as bright as any, and both Wright and Vale would help eventually turn the game in the hosts’ favour.

A short corner saw Wright find room for a shot, and although he was denied for the second time by the post, the ball found its way over the line courtesy of a rebound off the unfortunate Wrexham defender Ryan Williams nine minutes before the break.

And it was Vale who would come up with the assist for Rovers’ second goal which saw them lead at the break.  Picking the ball up on the half turn, he drove towards goal, and although his ball forward took a deflection, it fell kindly for Brad Lynch who showed great confidence to rifle the ball in to the roof the net.

Rovers were forced in to a change early in the second half, with Jackson limping off and Jack Evans coming on in his place, with John Buckley dropping in to the back four.

Wrexham were first to try their look after the re-start, though after some neat footwork to find a shooting angle, Cameron McGregor dragged his 25-yard effort wide of the post.

Vale continued to be a threat for Rovers, and after linking up with Buckley, saw a shot deflected wide of the target, with his cross from the following corner seeing Dan Butterworth head over.

Rovers were beginning to take charge as the game reached the hour mark, but with the deficit still at one, they couldn’t become complacent.  Vale, Butterworth and Wright linked up to good effect to force a save from Rigby at the end of a free-flowing move.

Lynch then went close twice in the space of a minute, the first a curling effort wide of the far post from the left edge of the box, his second a much more glaring miss. A left wing Evans cross found Butterworth, whose deflected shot landed at the feet of Lynch who toe-poked wide from six yards out.

The possession was almost exclusively Rovers’, but for all their good play, they couldn’t find that killer third goal. They thought they had it with 17 minutes to play, as Vale poked the ball beyond the advancing ‘keeper after being slipped in by Wright, only for the linesman to flag offside.

And Rigby was to twice come to the visitors’ rescue with important saves, denying an instinctive shot on the turn from Butterworth and then Wright’s header from the following corner.

In the final minute, Butterworth was brought down in the box, before picking himself up to take it, only to be denied by a good save from Rigby. But that wouldn't knock the confidence of the striker who scored an excellent solo goal late on, firing beyond Rigby after a good break down the left, to make the game safe.

Rovers: Campbell, Jackson (Evans, 52), Paton, Buckley, Carter, Barnes, Vale, Wilson, Butterworth, Lynch (Dolan, 74), Wright

Subs: Winterbottom, Thompson, Connell

Wrexham: Rigby, Stephens, Williams, Barratt, Beaumont, McHarrie, Pilkington (Sargent, 71), Burrows (Bulkeley, 77), Freeman, McGregor (Bickerstaff, 86) Thorn

Subs: Kirkham, Allshorn