Youngsters progress to next round after defeat over Spireites.
Rovers U-18’s are through to the Alliance Cup Third round after a comfortable 3-1 victory against Chesterfield, at Cantley Park.Rovers started the match on the front foot and dominated throughout. They were a goal up inside the opening ten minutes, when winger Aron Gordon did well down the Rovers left and his cross-found Liam Mandeville at the back post, who had a tap in.
Rovers continued to press forward and doubled their lead after 16 minutes, when the Chesterfield goalkeeper failed to gather what looked like a simple take and Matt Davies was on hand to tap in for his side.
Chesterfield finally got going midway through the first half and were awarded a penalty when trialist tripped a Chesterfield forward. However, Rovers keeper Jonny Iveson then saved the penalty.
Chesterfield didn't lose heart, following the missed penalty and started seeing more of the ball for the remainder of the first half.
Matthew Parkin replaced Gordon at the start of the second half, as Rovers hoped to learn from last week’s mistake of letting a two goal lead slip away.
Chesterfield tested Rovers resolve and scored after just four minutes into the second half.
Jack McKay then gave his side a two-goal lead once again, when he was put through one on one with the Chesterfield ‘keeper and slotted his finish neatly in the bottom corner.
Once Rovers regained a two-goal lead Chesterfield knew it was all or nothing and started to pile numbers forward. They asked a few questions of the Rovers defence, a chipped effort hit Iveson’s bar, with the keeper beaten.
The last real chance came with eight minutes to go, when a goalmouth scramble was eventually cleared to safety.
Rovers had chances to get a fourth on the break, but by the end, it was a comfortable victory, that saw them progress in the Youth Cup.
Rovers:
Iveson, Brown, Carberry, Head, P.McKay (c), Trialist, Davies (Collins, 86), Linley, J.McKay, Mandeville, Gordon (Parkin, 45).
Subs not used –Wanless, Henderson, Fielding.
Chesterfield:
Smith, Massey, Randle, Daswell, Holmes, Maguire, Oveson, Sueden, Beasley, Fowdu, Daley.