Rovers U18s made it four consecutive home wins as they came out on top of a tightly contested fixture against Scunthorpe United at Cantley Park.
The game took until the final quarter of an hour to spark into life as Max Adamson, Charlie Petch and Jack Goodman all got on the scoresheet with Harrison Poulter scoring from the spot for the Iron.
The result sees Rovers reclaim top spot in the EFL Youth Alliance League with a game in hand on second placed Lincoln City as Chad Gribble’s side recorded their fifth win of the season in all competitions.
Rovers’ latest local derby saw an end-to-end opening half with chances coming sparingly for both sides but Rovers best chance of the first 45 minutes came just moments into the game.
Midfielder Faris Khan looked to add to his recent goalscoring form after receiving the ball on the right and shifting it on to his left foot but his shot would fly both high and wide to stop Rovers from taking an early lead.
The visitors then found themselves presented with a chance to take the lead after a striker latched onto a long ball over the top and closed in on goal but he dragged his effort wide of goal to keep the score level.
Heading into the final 15 minutes of the half, both sides found themselves with further chances to break the deadlock but neither would succeed with Goodman seeing a deflected shot comfortably collected by the Iron’s goalkeeper as the opening period came to a close.
Josh Lindley then got play back underway for the second half with Rovers pushing for an opening goal but it would be United who took aim at goal first, albeit unsuccessfully, as a shot from range cleared not only the crossbar but the fences of Cantley Park to leave Jake Oram untroubled in Rovers’ goal.
Captain Jak Whiting would then go on to pick up the first yellow card of the day for what had been deemed to be a foul in the middle of the park before Gribble made his first substitutions, seeing Harry Wood and Will Green replace Jack Raper and Freddie Allen respectively.
Almost immediately after, the visitors nearly took the lead spectacularly with a bicycle kick but the effort once again went wide and the game remained goalless, prompting Rovers to make a change up front with Max Adamson replacing Owen Scattergood.
The attacking pressure on the visitors backline would then start to build and it would almost produce the opener through Goodman but a last ditch tackle would put the ball behind for a corner.
It wouldn’t be much longer however before Rovers did finally break the deadlock as Goodman flicked on a long ball for Adamson to superbly smash home beyond the keeper from range to once again claim a goal off the bench and put his side ahead.
Rovers wouldn’t settle there though as, with celebrations from the first goal barely over, they converted a set-piece routine to double their lead.
Will Flint jumped highest at the back post to put a corner back into the goal mouth where Petch was waiting to nod the ball into the back of the net as the defender got his first goal for Rovers U18s and in turn put his side in control heading into the final 10 minutes.
Minutes later, Rovers commanding position in the fixture looked to have taken a hit as Petch gave away a penalty, picking up a booking for his troubles.
Poulter stepped up and despite Oram guessing the right way, the power on the spot-kick saw the ball fly past the keeper and the visitors within a goal of striking level.
Despite the pressure, Rovers would go on to make sure all doubt was removed with minutes left on the clock.
Adamson would carry on his impressive display as he broke down the right wing and played a splitting ball into Wood who was able to knock on for top scorer Goodman to net for the sixth time in as many games and restore the hosts’ two goal lead.
Green and Oram would then enter the book for what the referee deemed to be time wasting late on before Gribble made his final change bringing on Justin Bennett in place of Lindley as Rovers saw out the final exchanges to record another league victory.
Gribble’s side will now look to build on another impressive showing in training and keep their unbeaten run going as Rovers hit the road to face Harrogate Town in EFL Youth Alliance League action on Saturday, October 1.