A strong Rovers Development side put in a dominating performance in a 1-0 win at Walsall.
John Schofield named a starting XI that featured first-teamers such as Tyler Garratt, Rodney Kongolo, Issam Ben Khemis, Alfie May and Andy Williams.
Schofield’s side took the lead with the real first chance of the game after 12 minutes. A clipped ball forward was initially headed away by the Walsall defence before Ben Khemis shrugged a defender off the ball and then unleashed a left-footed thunderbolt that left goalkeeper Brandon Ganley with no chance.
Rovers continued their assault on the Saddlers goal and three minutes later they could have doubled their lead.
A smart bit of play from May saw him create some space for himself before rattling his effort off the crossbar.
May and Williams continued to link up well during the first period, and three minutes short of the half-hour mark the latter began to find his stride.
An effort was expertly tipped onto the crossbar by Ganley, then two minutes Williams hit the woodwork again - this time by working his way into the box and striking an effort off the foot of a post.
It was a quieter affair in the second period with the first chance of the half falling to the hosts on the hour mark.
A smart move down the right of Rovers’ defence saw the ball pulled back to the penalty spot by Maz Kouhyar, he found Will Shorrock who in turn found the inside of a post.
The hosts began to grow into the game and could have pulled level a minute after their first attempt on goal.
A sweeping attack from left to right found its way to full-back Liam Kinsella whose cross-cum-shot cannoned off Louis Jones’ crossbar.
Rovers had the final chance of the game and it fell to substitute James Morris, some good play down the right from Morgan James saw him pull the ball back to Morris, but his side-footed effort was superbly tipped over the bar by Ganley.