Rovers forced to work for friendly victory

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY RAMSBOTTOM UTD ....... 0 BLACKBURN U23S........... 3 DAMIEN BARLOW RAMSBOTTOM United continued their preparations for the new campaign by providing a tough test for a young Blackburn Rovers side.

As the game settled down, Blackburn enjoyed more possession though a long clearance from the Rammy back line almost led to Luke Jordan getting in behind the visitors’ defence until a backtracking defender averted the danger.

A free kick for the away side just before the half hour presented an opportunity to get the ball into the danger area.

The Blackburn taker was faced with a one man wall of Jerome Wright.

A good delivery was whipped in towards the six yard box and a free header for Lewis Mansell lacked power and direction to trouble Rammy stopper Sam Ashton and bounced clear of the back post.

As the away side continued to turn the screw, a good interchange of passes down their left side resulted in a cross being delivered from the touchline, once again Ramsbottom held firm and cleared for a throw in.

From the resulting throw, Lewis Thompson tried an ambitious effort from 20 yards looking for the top corner, but only succeeded in finding the stand behind the goal.

Just after the half hour, the breakthrough finally came for Blackburn.

An initial chance had been wasted and turned away for a corner, which was taken quickly and as Ramsbottom were still organising themselves, the ball was worked away from Ashton who had tried to foil the quick thinking from Rovers. It was left to Willem Tomlinson to calmly roll the ball into the back of the Ramsbottom goal.

The Blackburn goal seem to work in the home sides favour, as they started to enjoy their best period of possession, and created a couple of half chances on the final third, the best one after some good play down the left, with a deep cross swung in asking the Rovers ●● Dominic Marie puts in a challenge during the game against Blackburn Rovers defence questions, was met firmly by the day’s number 10, unfortunately as earlier in the game for Blackburn, the end product was headed wide of the back post.

Just before the break Blackburn almost had a fortunate second, as Ashton’s attempted clearance clattered off the on-rushing striker but bounced clear of the goal.

Things started in the same vein after the break, Blackburn enjoying the lion’s share of the ball and forcing two or three corners, again taken short, but this time dealt with better, and all came to nothing for the visitors.

Midway through the second half and Rovers had their lead doubled, as Lewis Hardcastle found a yard of space just outside the area, took one touch to get the ball out of his feet and unleashed a low shot into the corner of the goal leaving the keeper with little or no chance of keeping his clean sheet intact.

Ben Paton rounded off the scoring for Rovers with a late glancing header.