U18s manager Chad Gribble is proud to have seen some of his players feature for Rovers' first-team against Newcastle U21s.
Forward Jack Goodman started the game, while there were substitute appearances for Jak Whiting and Jack Raper. Defenders Alex Fletcher and Charlie Petch were unused substitutes.
He said: “It shows the Academy is moving in the right direction and I want to put on record my thanks to the manager and his staff for giving the players the opportunity to play, albeit they have to deserve and earn it.
“I certainly feel like there’s the desire to select young players of ours for the first team and I think when they are going on the pitch, they’re not letting the football club down.
“They’re contributing so we’re incredibly proud of the boys who made their debuts in the week but we’re also proud of the one’s who didn’t because they’re all pushing and striving to be the next one’s every day.
“It’s a really positive place to be at the moment and we have to keep driving it forwards as a football club.”
Academy graduates Louis Jones, Liam Ravenhill, Bobby Faulkner and Tavonga Kuleya started in the side that beat Newcastle.