Youth Cup Rovers 2 v Gillingham 1.

[Alan75]

Blackburn youth team came back from a goal down at half time to beat Gillingham 2-1 at Christie Park, Morecambe to go through to meet Manchester United in the next round of the FA Youth Cup.

Half time Rovers 0 Gillingham 1.

                        Edusei 45min

Second half Andy Taylor scores for Rovers 72 minutes.

Rovers take the lead in the 81st minute through Garner.

Blackburn : Drench, Peers, Andy Taylor, Weaver, Luke Jones, Walsh, Peter, Byrom, Derbyshire (Garner 30min), Barker, Sakali (Stopforth 2min)

Subs not used : Barr, Zac Jones, Hodge, Thomas.

Gillingham : Knowles, Cornielle, Dumas, Chappell, Howell, Marsden, Wallis, Boorman (Monoh 86min), Carew, Edusei (Purcell 86min), Jarvis.

Subs not used : Partleton,Ibrahim.

[Alan75]

match report by den

Neither team managed to get the ball down and pass. Everything was up in the air.

A bad start for rovers when Tarek Sakali was carried off after about two minutes. It seemed like a bad injury. A late tackle by their number seven, and Sakali was in pain. He didn't get up and the stretcher was needed. Carried off with his right leg in one of those light weight casts they use.

Matt Derbyshire also had to go off later in the first half.

The first half neither goalkeeper had a save to make.  

To be fair to Gillingham, they defended very well, worked very hard and gave rovers nothing to work with.

First half injury time Gills took the lead, simple cross turned in at the near post.

Second half rovers upped the tempo, although never playing the football they obviously can, the lads got back into the game with a goal that gills keeper should have stopped.

A long shot from a direct free kick bounced over the keepers arms.

Rovers clinched what was probably a deserved win with a Joe Garner goal, heading in from an inswinging corner.

Difficult to pick out the best players, but Sergio Peter looked very skillful. He played on the left wing after Sakali's injury. Gavin Peers played well as did most of rover's defence.

Keith Barker was always available, but nothing would fall for him tonight.

The pick of the bunch was Joe Garner, when he came on. He seems to have a lot to his game. Always available, no little skill and moves well. Strong on the ball as well.