Barnsley Reserves 0 Blackburn Rovers Reserves 3

TWO first-half goals from Gary Hamilton and Jimmy Corbett gave Blackburn Rovers a flying start to the inaugural FA Premier Reserve League (North) campaign at Oakwell last night.

With Martin Taylor adding the pick of the bunch shortly after the interval, Rovers ran out comfortable winners and might have had a few more.

It was Hamilton who netted the second string's first goal of the season, toe-poking home after the ball had been pulled back from the bye-line. Then Corbett produced a prodigious leap at the back post to head in a corner from David McNamee.

That put Rovers in command with only half an hour gone but they became a little sloppy towards half time.

Five minutes after the restart, substitute Peter Murphy whipped in a tremendous cross from the left and Taylor, who had stayed up following a set piece, finished with a fine header.

Rovers could have had more goals but coach Terry Darracott said: "Overall, I have to be pleased with what turned out to be a comfortable win."

Although they used all three substitutes, there were no reports of any further injuries.

ROVERS: Kelly, Kenna (sub Murphy HT), Taylor, Brown, Croft, McNamee, O'Brien, Dunn (sub Scates 75 mins), Corbett, Hamilton, Blake (sub Thomas HT).

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